Tracey Garvis Graves is one of my all-time favourite authors. She can take me into a world she has created anytime! Her stories are real, thought-provoking and wonderfully captivating. Heard It In A Love Song sends an important message, is a novel I didn't want to end, and couldn't stop listening to.
Both main characters Layla and Josh are navigating through their respective divorces. They are starting new lives and become friends. I really enjoyed that their relationship developed slowly and naturally. We are able to see how their marriages failed through flashbacks which only adds to the story.
A wonderful story about healing and self growth, finding yourself, and finding love and happiness again after divorce.
Narrator Andi Arndt is superb!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an arc of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This book is a bit of a slow burn, character driven novel following two mid-30's people as they navigate life after divorce. Layla is an elementary school music teacher trying to find her passion for playing music again and Josh is an electrician figuring out how to coparent his daughter after being with his ex-wife since they were in high school.

I'm not usually one for slow burn, character driven novels BUT this one worked for me. Maybe knowing this going in had my expectations at a minimum? Idk. I had no complaints with the audio version either.

I chuckled a lot at the school drop-off scenarios that were frequently featured in this book. While my kiddo rides the bus to and from Pre-K, the amount of emails I get about the drop-off rules makes me think the author knew what she was talking about.

3.5/5⭐️

So far, I’ve loved everything I’ve read from Tracey, but sadly this one was disappointing. It wasn’t bad, because Tracey’s writing is still good, but it was just meh. Similarly to the dead spouse trope, the divorced/second chance at love trope for me has to be very believable and not have that second best feeling. This book had too many flashbacks of the main characters in relationships with their previous spouses. And while in the case of the heroine, it was obvious that she married a douche, the hero spent 20 years with his wife/High School Sweetheart/mother of his child and in his inner dialogue until about 90% in the book he was still questioning whether he gave up too soon regarding the divorce. Right until the end, his ex obviously wants him back. I’m just not a fan of second best romance or really any book that’s labeled as a romance, yet the leads are clearly hung up on other people. There’s also a lot of telling and not showing in this one. Like I said I’ve loved all the other books of Tracey I’ve read, so hopefully I’ll love the next one. The audiobook narration was fantastic though.

This was a great character study - a realistic look at divorce and romance. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and be part of their world for a while!
I’m a sucker for a dual timeline, so I loved the time jumps throughout the story. As others have mentioned, it was a bit difficult to figure out when the shift between timelines occurred on the audiobook, but it didn’t detract from the narrative at all. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

(3.75-4 stars)

I really enjoyed Layla and Josh’s story. I was invested right from the start. I love a mature, no games love story. Both are at different stages of the divorce process and are just trying to take life one day at a time, not really expecting to dip their toes in the dating pool. It did lose a bit of steam at the end. I felt a certain choice came. Out. Of. Nowhere and it threw me for a loop. It also felt a bit rushed at the end and unfinished. Just my opinion. Definitely worth the read.

Typically I tend to avoid the recently-divorced but something about this one (ok probably that GORGEOUS cover) felt different and I was right. It is about old love, failed relationships, and finding yourself again after divorce but it was also new love and finding that maybe you never lost yourself to begin with, you just needed a new opportunity to shine. I loved it, I loved Layla so much, Josh was great, Sasha was adorable, the music stuff was wonderful, it was just all around a really great read. There were a few slow spots but I still enjoyed it all the way through.

Title: Heard It in a Love Song
Author: Tracey Garvis Graves
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.2 out of 5

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?

Both Layla and Josh’s stories were compelling and kept me fully invested in this story. I enjoyed seeing the glimpses of their pasts in the flashbacks, as it let me get to know them as individuals, and not just as two people who are potentially interested in each other.

Their attraction grew so slowly and so naturally, that it just felt right. Norman was an enjoyable addition to the story, too, as were the bits with Josh’s daughter. This was just a sweet read, full of hope for the future, as two people learn from the mistakes of their pasts.

Tracey Garvis Graves is a bestselling author. Heard It in a Love Song is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.)

This is NOT a riveting love story.

And that's ok 🙃

I think it’s the male mc. He is totally a nice guy.

Rescues a pet, opens the door (I’m sure), hates online dating, eats sandwiches, has a crush on his daughters teacher.

Is that the steam??!!

Is that the crux??!!

We’re talking: doing puzzles together, walking the dog and dates are trivia nights at the local bar.

No drama, no missing exes, no addiction problems, no cats that talk, or that one night in college when someone died.

A slow, sweet, simmering romance. Between late thirty something year olds with morals and healthy boundaries.

This has to appeal to someone.

Conversations about circle time, doggie poop schedules, and the 🔥 is fingers lightly brushing.

It's lovely.

But I need a little more🔥 and I like my coffee hot.

There was absolutely no friction in this book. None. There was a obvious (in the synopsis) situation that made their relationship risque (😒) (no spoilers here). But it wasn't enough to make it interesting.

Perhaps my sad 🖤 can't suspend disbelief enough. This is what finding love in your forties looks like?

I don't want to have sex with 16-year-old students or their teachers. Perhaps Tracey Garvis Graves is not for me.

I'm really curious, how 🔥 do you like your romances?

Do you need friction in the plot to make it interesting?

Maybe I've read too many thrillers and CoHos. I'm not sure. 😕


Is this fetish fiction?

Heard it was a love story...

Thanks a million to @macmillanaudio and @netgalley for this alc! Auto-approval is the best!

3.75 Stars!

Alternating between present and past, Heard It in a Love Song explores heartbreak, rediscovering yourself, and a second chance at love.

Can we talk about how beautiful this cover is? I really enjoyed the slow burn of Layla and Josh, Norton (the dog), bashing on online dating, the parking lot gossip sesh's, and musical moments (a mix of Daisy Jones/The People We Keep vibes)!

I think there was a lot of backstory on the ex's and those past relationships which were important to the story, but spent a little too long for my liking rehashing those past relationships. I would of preferred more emphasis on their current relationship with one another instead of the latter.

This was a cute, easy, and very enjoyable read with themes of self-discovery, handling life after divorce, and finding love again.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a great book to follow with audio. 🎧 I liked the narrator, which really made listening to the book appealing.

This was a intelligent person’s romance novel. I loved that the characters Layla and Josh are both nice and decent people who actually like each other first as close friends. Both are coming out of long marriages and have been damaged in the process. However, each is still open to get to know the other person. There is not any unnecessary drama. It is hard to move on with your life after you have been with one person for so long. So, I really enjoyed each character’s slow process of learning how to live differently. Both have responsibilities, but realize it’s ok to have dreams, too. They were a couple I really routed for. I loved that Layla realizes it’s ok to be passionate about music and Josh completely supports her. Layla supports Josh needing some time to fully leave behind his first love. I thought their attitudes really added to making this a great story.

Thank you NetGalley, Tracey Garvis Graves, and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this book.

✨𝐑 𝐄 𝐕 𝐈 𝐄 𝐖✨

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬

I was so excited to receive this early copy of @traceygarvisgraves newest book. This is my 3rd book by her & I’ve enjoyed each one so far ☺️📖

Overall, this was such a sweet, slow-burn romance/ journey of self-discovery for Layla and Josh who are both recently divorced. I loved how realistic & mature the relationship was and how naturally the story flowed alternating perspectives between Layla & Josh as they’re growing as individuals and finding themselves/their passions again. This story felt so calm and peaceful while the characters deal with the tough reality of starting over, finding yourself & your happiness again✨

Thanks to @netgalley @stmartinspress @macmillan.audio for both the e-ARC/ALC. I definitely recommend this one if you’re looking for a slow-burn romance full of hope for second chances ❤️

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Layla Hilding is thirty-five, divorced, and teaching music to elementary school students. This life is a far cry from what she imagined, but she’s not certain it’s all bad either. As the former lead singer of a moderately successful regional cover band, Layla craved the high from performing on stage, but as they say, life got in the way and she was forced to put her dreams on hold.

Josh, is a single dad of one of Layla’s students, who is recently separated after almost 20 years of marriage. He is another unique soul who took an alternative route through life. He and his ex got married at 18 in the 1990s, which was almost unheard of at the time, and much to his parents’ dismay he didn’t go the college route either, instead got a job right out of high school.

Both Layla and Josh are newly independent and trying to decide if they even like this freedom, or if it rather feels more like loneliness. In an era of online dating, both of these old souls prefer meeting a companion in a more organic manner. Each with their own fragmented love story, they let their feelings develop slowly.

There is nothing flashy about this story, rather it follows a nice slow pace, much like a favorite song’s cadence. I do like that Layla and Josh come across as real people with real issues, who still know about to behave like adults. The cover is what caught my attention with this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, Tracey Garvis Graves, and MacMillan Audio for the advanced copy for my honest opinion. Heard It in a Love Song is out now!

#HeardItInALoveSong:

Like I previously said, Layla is just wonderful and I’m loved the rediscovery of life from her. It’s a slow burn that you really just sit and soak in while reading.

The musical references were spot on. I wanted to go be an indie singer with pink hair and a fringe jacket. I blared Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty.

What I think is so amazing about Tracey Garvis Graves is that she takes such a simple concept (two people learning to love again after heartbreak) and just composes this lyrical wonder that take a bit of your heart when the last page has finally turned.

The audio was a bit confusing because it would jump from Layla now to Layla with Liam, or Josh now to Josh with Kimmy. There wasn’t a transition or italics like in print, so it was hard to track. It would take me about a minute until I realized we were flashing back. Once I realized it, I loved it.

Overall, this book is the slow burn I needed. It was beautiful and so satisfying. Gives me all the Almost Famous with a side of heartbreak vibes. Tracey, ya wrecked me again.

Thank you Macmillan audio and McMillan for the copy.

I have adored all of Tracey Garvis Graves' books, but have never had the opportunity to listen to one on audio before, so I'm very happy to report that her newest book, Heard it in a Love Song is absolutely wonderful as an audiobook, and I'm sure it would be just as good in book form! The story is about two people who are recovering from divorces, finding themselves again and what they want in life, which is a thoroughly relatable story. It's told from 2 alternating points of view in a unique stream of consciousness style, moving through events that occur in the present into memories that gradually reveal the characters' pasts and what brought them to their present situation. This sounds odd when I write it down but it really works to build up the characters' personalities and tell a heartwarming story about starting over and self discovery. The audiobook narration by Andi Arndt was just perfect, she really embodied the voice of both characters to the point where it felt like they were telling their own story. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to see what Tracey Garvis Graves will write next!

This was such a sweet romance!

Layla had aspirations to break into the music industry. Her band was quite successful, with a devoted local following. In order to make ends meet Layla gave up her first love of performing and began teaching kids music in the local elementary school.

Josh married his high school sweetheart. Never imagining that as they grew up, they may also grow apart. But here he is after 20 years of marriage, now facing life as a part-time single dad.

Turns out, Josh and Layla share a common interest. Josh’s daughter happens to be one of Layla’s students.

Is this just a rebound infatuation with no real future? Or do they have a chance at something so much more?

I listened to the audio and absolutely loved the narration by Andi Arndt. She did an amazing job giving life to the characters and telling a beautiful story of friendship and love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio 🎧

Heard It In A Love Song
by: Tracey Garvis Graves
narrated by: Andi Arndt
Macmillan Audio
(from St. Martin's Press)

Layla, a female musician and teacher, is an interesting female lead in the story by Tracey Graves Graves. The book is in dual timeline format, covering both the past and present in Layla's life, as well as that of her new friend Josh. The break up of the relationships of both characters is covered, as well as how they move forward in life. Narrator Andi Arndt does an excellent job with portraying the characters and emotions of the story. I personally found the story itself to be somewhat slow, but it is a well written and engaging book.
Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the advance reader's copy and the opportunity to provide my unbiased review.
#NetGalley #Hearditinalovesong

Tracey Garvis Graves was a new to me author this year. I absolutely LOVED her On the island and The girl he used to know. So to say I was excited about her newest book would be an understatement.

Unfortunately for me this one was more women’s fiction/deep dive into the breakdown of two people’s marriages than an actual swoon worthy second chance at love romance the book was marketed as.

Told in alternating timelines between the past and the present as Josh and Layla are trying to move on and start over after their respective marriages end.

Layla is a music teacher at Josh’s daughter’s school which is where the two meet. However I really struggled to buy into their budding romance. What I did enjoy about the book was the realistic depiction of the challenges of marriage and partnership.

Overall this one just wasn’t for me. Much thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.

Charming, believable and emotional are the first three words that come to mind when describing Heard it in a Love Song. I'm a teacher and after reading the summary of this book, I knew I was going to fall in love with it. Josh and Layla's love story includes both heartbreaks and happiness. Their situations and experiences are genuine and many readers will feel a connection to the characters.

Layla is a 35-year-old music teacher who is recently divorced from her husband of ten years. Josh is recently separated from his wife, who he was married to for 20 years. They are both grieving the ends of their marriages and trying to navigate their newfound independence. Josh's daughter attends Layla's school so they talk each morning and as their friendship begins and develops, they have to decide what, if anything, will come next.

I quickly found myself invested in Josh and Layla's stories and I love how each chapter alternated between their perspectives. The chapters taking place in the past weaved perfectly with those in the present and I enjoyed seeing how their past experiences affected their developing relationship. Thanks NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and MacMillian Audio for my advanced audio copy!

Josh is struggling through his divorce. Layla has just recently divorced. Neither one is looking for love. But, as you can guess, these two have a connection.

Josh has a beautiful daughter and Layla is her music teacher. So they see each other every day. This opens up some doors for both of them. But, can they make rebound love work..you must read this to find out!

The characters, as usual, are fabulous. They are each struggling but they stay sane. That is important! Trust me! These two are perfect together. Throw in the cute dog and the sweet little girl and you have a good read!

I also loved the narrator, Andi Arndt. I have heard her narrate on several books and she does a great pace and wonderful inflection.

I absolutely love this author. However, this book is not my favorite, but it is still a good read. Her books just usually have a different twist. This one is just a normal romance, nothing wrong with that. I still enjoyed it, especially with all the music references. Brought back a ton of memories.

Need a good romance which will make you smile…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review

Audiobook Review

Narrated by Andi Arndt

A contemporary romance with two divorcees hoping to find a second chance with love. Both characters were extremely mature, having lived and learned from their past experiences with their previous spouses. They approached their relationship with caution, took their time exploring their attraction and gave each other space when needed.

I think that this level of maturity in a relationship is fantastic for real life. However, in book world I have to admit it was a bit boring. I didn't get that rush of emotion or anticipation of this couple finding their HEA. There was nothing wrong per se with this love story but I just kind of lost interest at some point. The chemistry was okay and the heat level is very mild.

The narrator was amazing in this one. My only criticism is that both characters have flashbacks to their past relationships and because there was only one narrator doing both POVs, I found it a bit difficult figuring out whose flashback I was in.