This story, unfortunately, just never grabbed me. I found it redundant and boring and just hard to stay focused. Whether or not I'd classify this as a romance is also questionable. There were some definite bright spots I found in both Layla and Josh but there were also some things that exasperated me too much. Overall, it took me a long time to get through it and the story just wasn't for me.

Absolutely loved this book! Highly recommend. My book club will be reading this in February, and I cannot wait to hear their thoughts. Everyone should read this one!

As Layla and John both try to bring clarity to how and why their marriages feel apart they form a friendship as they speak to one another. In a world where people find love on the internet, Layla and John go the traditional route of friendship before anything.

This is another great book from tracey Garvis Graves and I will read anything she writes as I gravitate to her books with her wonderful writing and storytelling.

5 stars

“Heard It in a Love Song” by Tracey Garvis Graves is told in alternating perspectives between our two main characters, Josh & Layla. For some reason I just didn't connect with these characters. Don't get me wrong, the book is written extremely well, the romance is sweet and I loved how it wasn't "insta-love". I am also a fan of the author but maybe it was just the story itself, something felt like it was missing. I did purchase and listen to the audio and absolutely loved the narration by Andi Arndt. Andi always does an amazing job giving life to the characters she narrates.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and Tracey Garvis Graves for the t-shirt, ebook, and finished copy!

You may recall that On The Island is my favorite book ever, so I was so excited to read this book!

I thought this book was really low stress and character driven. It wasn’t the edge of your seat read that OTI has, but instead it gives you the warm, peaceful feeling of a small-town slow-burn romance between two people who are just trying to figure out who they are post-separation from their exes. I really liked this book!

This is the first book I have read by Tracey Graves, but I will be looking for others. I really enjoyed her writing style and easily related to the characters. This book had me up reading until 3 in the morning because I couldn’t put it down until I knew how it ended.

This is a sweet romance centered around two adults on the rebound. I like how the focus is on starting over after heartbreak and still finding happiness. I was kind of skeptical about reading this so soon after Daisy Jones and the Six but this is a totally different type of story. It does center around a woman who once was the lead singer in a band but that is just part of her character development, not the primary subject. I really like Tracey Garvis Graves’ writing style, and would recommend her for fans of Nicolas Sparks-type romance.

This is my first book by Tracey Garvis Graves, and it definitely won’t be my last. I absolutely loved this book!

This is a story of two people recently divorced and working to come to terms with the end or break free from their past. What really captured me what that each or the characters were starting over and learning who they really are or should be. Both marriages ended differently and both needed to heal and move on differently. Yet, recovering together can help take some of that burden so you can discover what your life could be. I think this is why I love second chance love stories so much.

I also had the luxury of listening along with the egalley thanks to @macmillionaudio for granting me the audiobook as well.

4.5 stars – Rounding to 5 for Goodreads.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Layla teaches music class at the local elementary school. Thirty five and recently divorced, she truly enjoys her job and the children. Happy to finally be free from a suffocating and loveless marriage, Layla is trying to rebuild her life one day at a time.Years ago she was part of a successful local band that was making quite a name for themselves. Imagining a life on stage, Layla followed her dreams of making music to share with the world. When she got married her husband slowly convinced her to move on with her life as it was time to be grown-ups and put silly fantasies aside. But Layla never forgot the way it felt to sing and play, to perform in front of a live audience. Josh is a single dad, also going through a difficult divorce. Having married his high school sweetheart at such a young age, he feels they have grown too far apart. His daughter is in Layla’s class and they slowly and carefully become friends. Layla builds a music studio in her basement and for the first time in years begins to explore her old feelings and figure out a brand new future. Guarding both their hearts and protecting Josh’s sweet little girl the two can no longer deny their instant chemistry and the happiness they allow themselves to feel when they are together. Heard it in a Love Song is a really simple, sweet romance about second chances.

I enjoyed reading the story of Layla, an elementary school music teacher and Josh, a soon-to-be divorced dad. Tracey Garvis Graves writes beautiful romance stories that touch the heart. This one did not disappoint.

Believe it or not, this is my first Tracey Garvis Graves (and a huge thank you to @smpromance for this surprise #gifted book) I really enjoyed it, and it kind of gave me Taylor Jenkins Reid vibes with her storytelling.

Right off I’ll say this is a character driven story. Not much happened throughout the book plot wise, and I was entirely ok with that. It worked really well for this story. It’s entirely about Josh and Layla working out their past baggage as they find a way forward with each other.

I loved that there was no unnecessary drama for the sake of putting drama in the story. I also loved that when there was an issue the characters communicated like the adults they are. The flashbacks were also very well done. They felt well integrated and seamless to the story without feeling abrupt nor did it prevent the present story from being confusing.

The story only goes at one pace. There are no crazy emotional ups and downs, but I really loved watching this relationship evolve and the very real feeling of it. I’d definitely recommend this one!

I also loved this quote: “Because as women, when we start hiding our truth from other people, especially the people who should be aware of it most, that’s when we give them the power to diminish it.”

I loved this book! Layla and Josh are a great story about love, loss and hope. I highly recommend it to anyone who has dealt with a crushed dream.

This was an enjoyable read. A bit slow in some parts but still a nice story.
It felt more like woman’s fiction than traditional romance.

TYSM to NetGalley for my copy of this novel.

This was a cute and enjoyable read about second chance romance for both of the main characters, Layla and Josh. While it was a little slow to start as we dove into Layla and Josh's story separately, they came together fairly seamlessly. Their journey was a slow and cute one, however, I felt as if the ending and the problems that each character faced in real-time were a little sped up.

Layla may be an elementary school music teacher but she used to be the lead singer and guitarist in a band. But those days, along with her 10-year marriage, are over. And she’s trying to start anew.

Josh is also looking for a fresh start. He and his high school sweetheart are getting divorced and they share custody of their daughter who just so happens to go to school where Layla teaches music.

They meet when he drops Layla at school and that’s when the first spark is ignited. It grows when Josh’s daughter volunteers Layla to dogsit. Josh fixes some things at Layla’s house and that’s when he discovers she’s a bit of a rock goddess.

As they grow closer, they hit a few snags. Josh isn’t entirely divorced and Layla does not need any more messy relationships in her life. But their connection is too strong to break just because they aren’t spending as much time together. This is a romance after all!

Two of the things I love most about this book are the dual POVs (Layla’s and Josh’s) and the flashbacks to when Josh was married and to when Layla was in the band and married. This really allowed for the reader to fully get to know both characters and where they are coming from. What their baggage is.

I also really liked seeing Layla get back into music. She had put aside her passion for so long and she finally got a chance to get back to it. I also appreciated that she realized she didn’t want to do the whole “do anything to become famous” thing. She just wanted to do it for the fun of it.

I did like the relationship between Layla and Josh. It felt very real, but there was something that wasn’t totally clicking for me. It needed more depth. Something. It felt a little shallow and I can’t exactly explain why. Maybe more interaction between them. Something about it just needed…more *waves hands*

Overall, Heard It in a Love Song is an interesting, lovely adult contemporary romance with a deep look into the two love interests. I am giving it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Heard It in a Love Song by Tracey Garvis Graves is available now!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Layla and Josh meet each other at a time when they get divorced from their respective partners and are evaluating their long relationships. How they handle the second chance life throws at them is the crux of the plot. I liked the alternating POVs of Layla and Josh. and the way the concept of music brings them together organically was very interesting. The books focuses on how they both overcome their respective heartbreaks and move on it life. It does get very sentimental and was more of a slow burn than romance!

This was a wonderful slow burn romance. The characters were great. I really appreciate the inclusion of a blue collar character

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a love story of second chances. Layla, a newly divorced music teacher, is trying to find herself again through her music. Meanwhile, she meets Josh, a dad of one of her students, who is also going through a recent split. Told through alternating POVs with flashbacks, this story was exactly what I needed after a recent heavier read. The flashbacks added texture to the story and didn’t seem unnecessary. I recommend this one if you’re looking for a palate-cleansing quick read!

I was fortunate to join The Six Spotlight (on Instagram) buddy read and discussion with the author. I can’t wait to read more from her! Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this digital galley of the book.

Really enjoyed this one - I was really engrossed with the story the entire time! Thanks for the opportunity to read!

Heard it in a love song
I love a second chance at love. Love comes when you least expect it. For Layla and Josh they though they already had their first chance at love in their previous relationships but life didn’t go as planned.
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Cautiously approaching a chance at love these two explore their new found single lives trying to protect their hearts but also take the best step.

Beautifully written with characters to root for this was a great read, plus look at this stunning cover!

Thank you @StMartinsPress and @NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review