I would like to thank #SourcebooksLandmark for sending me an #ARC of #LoveSongsforSkeptics by #ChristinaPishiris via #NetGalley, in exchange for an honest and fair review.


Love Songs For Skeptics is a debut novel by Christina Pishiris, centering around thirty-four year old music journalist Zoë, who isn't the biggest believer in love, due to her unsuccess in that department. But that's okay! She is the editor of London's most famous music magazine. And there is hope on the horizon, as her childhood best friend - whom she has been in love with since she was thirteen - is finally moving back to London, newly single. As Simon enters her life again, she finds out she is on the brink of losing her job due to poor magazine sales. While trying to land an interview with her world famous, rock idol, in hopes of saving the magazine, she is forced to deal with pain in her ass - but sexy AF - music publicist, Nick. While trying to sort out her confusing feelings for Simon, the unwanted sparks with Nick, her job, and her brothers wedding, Zoë is at her limit. By the end, does this love skeptic finally find the one?


So I wasn't planning on posting any more reviews until after the New Year, but I signed into NetGalley, and low and behold, Sourcebooks granted my wish to review this book. I was thinking it would take me the week to get through, and the review would be ready before release date (January 5th, 2021, by the way). But then something happened.


I devoured this book in a day.


Love Songs for Skeptics is so refreshing! I thought I was stepping into your everyday romance book with your everyday tropes (and hey, I love those books, so I'm not snubbing them), but Christina, in her first published book, managed to bring a breath of fresh air to this genre, with her original plot, intriguing and flawed characters, and consistent flow throughout the book. Another surprise was the unpredictability of this book. I knew who I wanted her to end up with, but Christina Pishiris had me truly wondering who she would pick. Correction: if this skeptic would pick at all!


One of the strongest elements of this book are the characters. Everyone is complicated, which brings a healthy dose of realism to the story. Zoë, our protagonist, is incredibly likeable, relatable, and witty. She wasn't perfect, and I loved that! Many times I wish I could have stepped in the book, handed her a glass of wine, and given her a pep talk, but it works out, because we get to see her characters growth. The male love interests: Simon and Nick. Well, I liked them both. They both had their flaws, one more than the other. I felt Christina did a pretty good job of pointing out who was the better match, while not making it overly obvious. She put to paper the very complicated emotions involving friends to lovers/enemies to lovers, in a realistic, but beautiful way.


Let's be clear about something. If you have read my reviews before, particularly with romance books, you know I like a book with a little - okay, a lot - of smut. Love Songs For Skeptics didn't have any (although, Zoë does think about sex, so it's not totally skipped over), but I didn't care. I still gobbled this book up as if I hadn't eaten in days. I think I will keep my eye out for future work by Christina Pishiris.

Love Songs for Skeptics // by Christina Pishiris

It seems that this is the night to write reviews for books that gave me mixed feelings. I don't read a lot of romance novels and this one sounded very intriguing with its music theme. I really liked the flow of the story overall. It moved at a good pace all throughout the book and kept me engaged the entire time. Generally, I liked the characters and learning about their history and I'm happy with how they turned out by the end of the story but I do have to say that I'm pretty unhappy with the development of one of the main characters. His story went from being a saint to the other spectrum so quickly that it felt really jarring. I felt like I was being jerked around too much. I'm happy with how the ending turned out but it just didn't feel fair to the characters the way his drama was incorporated. I do think that for a debut novel she did really well though and I think I will read more of her in the future.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was exactly what I needed: a really cute romcom that features both a love triangle and enemies to lovers. Zoe was a great protagonist, hilarious and relatable. The love triangle was reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice, I got big Mr. Darcy vibes from Nick. I wish we got to see more of Zoe and Nick together and less Zoe pining after Simon (who doesn't deserve it!!)

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The character development was subtle in a myriad of ways, and the plot moves along quickly enough to keep interest. I could have used a little more expansion around the ending of the book, but on the whole found the experience very enjoyable.

You guys, this book is SO CUTE. I don't even know what else I can say beyond that. I definitely recommend this one to my fellow Rom-Com lovers.
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Zoe is someone that you want to root for. She's successful in a typically male dominated position that also happens to be her dream job, has a great group of friends and maintains an awesome relationship with her family. I really appreciated that she wasn't written as the stereotypical witchy (with a B) alpha female, instead she is warm and someone you actually want to know, or at least read about.
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One of my favorite things is that each chapter title is a song like 'Only Happy When it Rains', 'Love is a Battlefield' and Total Eclipse of the Heart. Little details like that make me so happy!
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There are a couple content warnings, including alcoholism, drug abuse and an overdose scene so be aware of that. However I feel do feel like they were dealt with pretty consciously and there wasn't anything gratuitous or graphic about how it was written.
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Thanks to Netgalley and @bookmarked for providing me with an advanced copy of the book to review. All opinions are my own.

An amusing, if predictable rom com debut by a British author "born in London to Greek Cypriot parents" about the highs and lows of hero-worship. The story unfurls in the first-person voice of Zoë Frixos, a 34 year-old editor of a major London popular music magazine. To save the slowly sinking <i>Re:Sound</i> from being cut by the cost-conscious conglomerate that recently acquired it, Zoë has to increase sales—difficult to do in a world more attuned to digital, rather than print, media like her magazine. Zoë has her eye on fifty-something rock goddess Marcie Tyler, the singer whom she still idolizes, as the feature star who will pull in more readers. But Tyler's notoriously reclusive—and the one controlling access, her new PR agent, just happens to be the "jumped-up posh boy" with whom Zoë traded insults at a recent industry do. Meanwhile, Zoë's best friend from childhood—the same boy whom she's been crushing on since her teen years—returns to London from the U.S., recently divorced and eager to reconnect. Love triangle shenanigans ensue...

Romance readers (especially Jane Austen fans) will likely know from the start how Zoë's love life is likely to proceed. To fall in love with such a predictable storyline, then, a reader has to fall for its narrator/narrative voice. That didn't quite happen, at least not for me. Zoë may claim to hate schmaltzy love songs, and everything having to do with her brother's upcoming wedding, but she's pretty romance-obsessed—a gap which suggests a real lack of self-insight, a character trait that proves very annoying. And while Zoë's job title suggests competence, we rarely see said competence on the page, except in narrative asides (ex: "When I was in professional mode, I got shit done"). It takes her the entire novel to get her scoop, after many attempts and failures, and we don't see her working on much else job-wise during the story. These two things combine to make Zoë come across as rather hapless and immature as she makes more and more unwarranted assumptions and judgments about both of the two men mentioned above. I kept wanting to stop the book and say "why don't you ask him this?" or "why did you assume that??"

Zoë has many appealing qualities, though: her knowledge and love for 80's music; her undemonstrative but heartfelt love for her family; her concern for the people who work for her; and her long-time friendship with Simon [can I join the Zak Scaramouche Fan Club?]). But she's more passive than active, someone who allows others to take advantage of her without her even realizing it, which tipped the scales against her for me.

Her blinders, paired with her first person narrative, means we don't get a real sense of either her childhood friend Simon or PR guy Nick, either. Which makes the romances both end up feeling rather flat (although the kiss in the karaoke bar scene was both fun and hot). And even after Zoë kicks one guy to the curb, she doesn't upbraid him for his cavalier treatment of her; it takes her brother to point out to her that she'd never "held him to account for how he'd treated me."

In typical rom com fashion, Zoë does end up experiencing an emotional insight that finally leads her to change her course (and to change the course of her one-time idol, Marcie Tyler). Also in typical rom com fashion, said change leads her to true love, to getting the scoop, and to saving her magazine (although it's a bit hard to believe that a single big story could keep a floundering periodical afloat). Whether you find such an ending pleasurably joyful or overly contrived (or a not quite satisfying mix of both) may depend on how much you buy into the fantasy the rom com as a genre offers.

Points off for killing off a queer older mentor so that both heterosexual Zoë and Marcie can learn much needed lessons about acting while there is still time, rather than just mourning over loves lost.

Charming and heartfelt. A recommended purchase for collections where WF and contemporary romance are popular.

This book was so good, I could not put it down! It was really engaging and gave me a little bit of wanderlust! Super funny and romantic, would definitely recommend!

Zoe, editor of a music magazine, is after the elusive interview with reclusive musician Marcie to save the magazine. But things get complicated when the man she has had a crush on since he was the boy next-door, Simon, returns to London and he has a connection with a musician Marcie is trying to reconnect with. Add in a boyband that is upset with Zoe and an angry publicist with ties to both the boy band and Marcie and Zoe has her hands full. This is Zoe's story of love and broken dreams and figuring out what is really important.

When I first requested this NetGalley ARC, I suppose I hadn't thought too much of it, and thought it'd be just a fun, indulgent, and a bit basic for a romance read. But, it definitely wasn't and I surprised myself with how into this book I was, to like can't-put-it-down until the wee hours of the morning, it was that surprising, fun, humorous, engaging, cute, and enjoyable.

Here, Zoë is a music journalist and editor for a struggling music magazine in London. Hence the title and her bad luck in the dating department, she doesn't quite believe in love, especially after as a teen, she fell in her love with her neighbor Simon, but didn't get a chance to share her feelings before he left the country at age 16. Ever since then, she's definitely bitter towards the whole concept of love, however, one day in the present storyline, some twenty years later, Simon has officially moved back to London, newly divorced, handsome and charming and ever, and it seems may have some feelings for our girl Zoë? And it turns out her crush never went away. Between this new relationship on the horizon, Simon's once-famous ex-girlfriend Jess popping up in their lives, Nick who's a cocky music publicist blackmailing and flirting with Zoë, and her brother's upcoming big Greek wedding; there's a lot happening at once to deal with. Despite all this happening in the story, I still enjoyed this read. It was fun, relatable, engaging, made me laugh and cringe, and also want to scream out 'what the heck is happening??'

This book had a compelling and relatable point of view, like I just get into her mind well and she's quite funny too. We also get plenty of tropes between two love triangles, enemies to lovers, and falling in love at a wedding. It's just so hard for me to put down this book because I just wanted to continue it until I finished this fun romp of a romance book. It's all good fun, until about a hundred pages from the end where things unexpectedly get super heavy and dramatic, adding turns that were anything but predictable, but I was captivated by. It's also clever how the chapter names are all applicable song titles, all of which make sense in a full-circle moment at the end. It's not just a romantic love story, but a self-love story first as Zoe figures how who she is and what she really wants. Then, by the end, things it super soapy and messy, but it was plain, good fun for a book that I enjoyed. In her HEA, once she figures out her own desires first, we do get that grandiose, sweeping romantic HEA moment that was so darn cute I couldn't stop smiling. It's more than a romance book and that's what I was drawn to. Also, she and Nick definitely have so much chemistry and banter that I love to see in a romance read and is so dang amusing as a reader. In the end, it was just so entertaining and fun to read, I well enjoyed that book.

A wonderful romance that combines humor and a love of music to develop a wonderful story. It is a fun and realistic read without being overly trite or sentimental.

A typical lovers triangle between Zoe, ;her best friend Simon and a Public relations manger for the artist is well done and believable.. The characters are well developed and there is enough British humor to keep it light. Not your usual Rom-Com or Chick Lit but a very well crafted story.

Zoe has her dream job as a music journalist but her personal life is a bit lacking. When her childhood best friend, Simon, returns to London feelings are rekindled. Did I think I knew where this book was going? Yes but was I right? Absolutely not! Besides working through her feelings for Simon, Zoe has to rescue her magazine from being shut down. A fun read.

Perfect summer read for all the rockstars out there . . . when you like happiness, but not sappiness, this is your go-to romance. Zoe Frixos is an editor at a music magazine trying to stay in business in the challenging publishing world. Nick, a new music exec, is hounding her to report on a boy band, but she really wants to score an interview with an elusive, much-loved musician she's idolized for years. Things are complicated by the return of her childhood friend who seems like the one who got away as well as the upcoming wedding of Zoe's brother. There are elements of fun and adventure and doing the right thing. A fun read with a playlist of familiar songs running in the background.

Cute/predictable/romantic comedy

When Zoe was 13 yrs. old she fell in love with her best friend and next door neighbor, Simon. Though his family moved away, she and Simon always remained friends. Now in their early 30’s and successful in their careers, Simon has divorced his wife, and moved back to London. Maybe after all of this time, they can finally be together?

For me this was just okay. I really liked the pop culture references, and song titles in each chapter. There were some cute moments like her and Simon sharing ice-cream, the karaoke scene, and Zoe finally getting her interview. However, I wasn’t completed invested in the story and didn’t care for any of the characters. Zoe was fun and witty at times, but mostly she jumped to conclusions and assumed the worst in every situation. I wasn’t a huge fan of the love triangle between Simon and Nick, nor the drama between Jess and Macie. The only character I somewhat liked was Alice, who seemed down-to-earth and a good friend.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me an ARC!

I opened this book with low expectations of being surprised. From the description, I assumed I would be enjoying a romantic comedy about a skeptical music loving protagonist caught in between her complex past, present, and what she envisioned for her future. While I was right about my predictions in the plot, I was completely wrong about lowering expectations.

This was a whirlwind of a book that had me second guessing all of the characters' intent and actual feelings. I was completely enthralled and emotionally involved the entire time especially with all the information that is masterfully woven into the chapters as the story comes to a close.

Zoe isn't just likable or relatable, but she is someone that all of us strive to be. Dealing with her brother's wedding and family dynamics on top of her own complex romantic interests adds to her profile as one of the best romantic protagonists I've read in a long time. With the musical background creating intrigue and depth, I would recommend this to anyone.

Love Songs for Skeptics is a great read for light-hearted romantic fun. The main character, Zoë, has loved her best friend Simon for decades, but her story doesn't turn out the way she ever expected. I enjoyed reading this book. It was a quick, fun read for a summer weekend, and it has all the music references your heart desires.

The plot, however, fell into the trap of developing the female character's personal arc and then realizing she still needs to choose a man before the story can be complete. The relationship we get in the end just isn't established enough for me to believe it, and Zoë grows so much as an individual that I didn't believe she would have made that particular choice. There are definite Pride & Prejudice connections, though (including a direct reference), so I understand what the author was going for, and I was able to suspend my disbelief for the most part to enjoy the book for the love story it is.

Thanks to an ARC from NetGalley, I got to thoroughly enjoy this London based book. I love nothing more than a story that takes place in the UK (especially London). I loved Zoe's Greek family (those food descriptions had me hungry!) and her job as a music journalist. However, I felt her relationship with Nick didn't develop realistically, but I did end up loving him. I read it in one sitting because I didn't want to put it down, so 4 stars!