Layla is recently divorced and finally accepting that her glory days as a lead singer of a band are over. She's navigating her new life as a single woman, a homeowner, and an elementary school music teacher.

Josh is a soon-to-be-single dad whose daughter is in Layla's music class. When his daughter volunteers Layla to dog sit for them one weekend, nothing is the same again.

Josh and Layla share the fear and unease of new relationships. They bond quickly though, and decide to stay "friends with potential".

Is this just a rebound and need to have a person around? Or could this be the start of the rest of their lives?

I LOVED this story. Absolutely adored the characters and I missed them when it was over. Everyone experiences heartbreak and this was such a hopeful story of new beginnings.

I really liked this story of a Plan B romance. I enjoyed the music references and getting to know the characters. I listened to this book on audio and it was a little difficult to follow the alternating timelines and character points of view but it wasn't bad enough to make me dislike the book. The narrator was really easy to listen to. I think I would've liked it better as a physical book. 3.5 stars

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I do not really know how to explain this story. It is definitely more women’s fiction than romance. The story jumps back and forth between the past relationships and the current day. We really get to see more around the past for both Layla and Josh as the story is follows more so around their previous relationships/lives. There are very limited scenes involving the two together. There was little romance for me personally. It was more of a story around finding yourself and picking up the pieces after divorce.

This was not what I was expecting at all. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters though. Overall, a decent read.

Unfortunately, I really didn’t like this. It’s very sweet.

But it just felt lackluster

The narration on the audiobook is great by the way. It’s just not really my thing.

I read the description on net Kelly and it sounded interesting but honestly I was bored through most of it.


So thank you as always to net galley For sending me this review copy. I just wish I liked it more

The book flip flops between past and present way too much. It is hard to retain the different relationships since nothing happens in the present, especially if you are listening/reading in multiple settings. The book's present-day seems to be early 2019 but, I have no idea when the past is supposed to be. My main issue is the lack of a plot or a clear one. I appreciate Layla's character. She loves her job even though it wasn't her dream career and learns how to set boundaries. All the other characters are less interesting, so I have no empathy for them.

Heard it in Love Song follows former lead singer, Layla, and single dad Josh as they navigate being single then falling in love again after their failed marriages; Josh after 20 years with his high school sweetheart and Layla after 10 years with her less than supportive ex.

Layla is the music teacher at the elementary school Josh's daughter attends and they become close during their quick chats during morning drop off. Over the course of the book we watch them go from acquaintances to friends to friends with potential to falling in love, all the while we get to see the rise and fall of their former relationships through flash backs. I especially loved that because we got to see them take the lessons they learned from their failed marriages and directly apply them to their new relationship. Layla learns to speak up for herself and not apologize for having needs/wants/dreams and Josh learns to be less impulsive when it comes to relationships.

If there was one word I could use to describe this book, I'd say it's "real", There was so many parts of the book, especially in the flashbacks, that I related to. We got to see the good the bad and the ugly of relationships. Of falling in love with the wrong man. Of falling in love too soon and marrying too young.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am thankful for Macmillan audio for sending me an arc of the audiobook. Of course the narrator, Andi Arndt did a great job. I wish there was a male narrator that did Josh's part but that is more personal preference and doesn't hurt the overall experience.

"Heard It In A Love Song" was a book I judged by the cover. I saw it and thought "70's hippie garden" and was sold.

This book was an enjoyable story about becoming and adult, breaking up and second chances. There were lots of song references throughout the book which were awesome and set a great tone for the story.

Layla is in her mid thirties and starting over. Fresh after a divorce, she still trying to reconcile her dreams of fronting a band with her reality of being a primary school music teacher. Her friends encourage her to start dating and exploring what it is she wants from life.

Josh is similarly starting a new segment of his life. Now finding himself a single Dad with split custody, he is determined to make this new arrangement work for his daughter Sasha. And his new friend Norton.

His break up with his highschool sweetheart is a very different divorce from Layla and her husband, but they both have some lessons to learn about themselves. And both parties might find that the new tune they are marching to has the same rhythm.

What a sweet story about second chances, self growth, finding yourself and your happiness and finding love again after divorce.⁣
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There’s a super cute pup named Norton, and a little girl named Sasha.⁣
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There are plenty of great music references and a kick ass elementary school music teacher who is also a rock star!⁣
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Josh had been with his high school sweetheart for most of his life, only for them to grow apart. Layla met her ex husband when he played groupie at one of her music gigs, only for them to grow apart too. ⁣
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Josh and Layla are learning how to be alone, while also trying to find a new companion after divorce, and their story just seems so realistic and how life after divorce likely is for many people. I really enjoyed this second chance romance.⁣

I really enjoyed the narration of this. The narrator had such a soothing voice and this was well done.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is one of my most anticipated books of 2021. After reading The Girl He Used to Know, any Tracey Garvis Graves’ book is a must read for me.

Layla is recently divorced and living with the regret of putting her wannabe rock star days on hold for a failed marriage. Josh is recently separated and adjusting to life as a single dad after separating from his high school sweetheart. The two run into each other and form a friendship that turns into “a love song of a story.”

I loved this one! I read the physical book and listened to the audio which were both equally amazing. Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan for the copy in exchange for my review.

💁🏻‍♀️ Overall Impression: While I’m still unsure what the book cover or name really have to do with the story, I ended up really enjoying this book. It’s one of the few that I think I may have enjoyed even more by reading it than I did on audio.

📖 Synopsis: Music teacher Layla and single dad Josh are both recently divorced, or at least soon to be, and neither are ready for love, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t found it in this sweet romance.

💭 Thoughts: This was a great story written through the past of both character’s previous relationships to the present of them meeting at school drop off every morning. I enjoyed both characters so much in both past and present that I couldn’t wait for them to be together. This is also written more as a fiction book than it is a typical romance in that it’s slower and more about the characters than their romance. You see how Layla had to change in her first marriage to how she gets back to herself on her own and then how she flourishes with Josh. Layla is such a beautiful character.

Did I forget to mention there’s a precocious daughter and an adorable deaf dog? Did I also forget to mention all the amazing 90s music references from her cover band!?! If you’re obsessed with music (and especially 90s covers) then this is the book for you! Dogs + kids + music = perfection.

👩🏻‍💻 Final Thoughts: I really wish I’d read an ARC instead of listening to the audio, which I never say as I love audio. The audio was well done, don’t get me wrong, I just think this is the type of story I’d rather read and savor.

This was my first book by the author, but I plan on picking up TGHUTK ASAP!!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review. ❤️

I loved, loved, loved this book! This is such a heartwarming story. I enjoyed listening to it, and it is so well written.

Layla is a strong and relatable character. She’s had her heartbroken by an ex husband and had to give up her dreams of being an up and coming rock star. She is now a music teacher at an elementary school.

Josh is a kind hearted man who is newly separated. He’s fiercely devoted to his daughter, Sasha and navigating feels of ending a very long marriage.

Layla and Josh cross paths and begin a journey of healing and self discovery. Their pasts have shaped how they’ve grown and matured, and to help them see what’s still out there. There’s so much more to life than what they had thought.

Layla’s journey to self discovery and healing is inspiring. She’s a strong character who knows what she deserves and she gets her power back.

The narrator did a wonderful job and conveyed all of the emotions. She was easy to listen to and to follow. This is very much worth your time, and you will love this story.


I would like to thank Tracey Garvis Graves, Macillian Audio, and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audio book ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This love story had such great heart and potential. I really enjoyed the premise and the way music was worked as a character all on its own. I just didn't find myself connecting to the characters as much as I would like to in a romance. Maybe it was how slow of a burn this ended up being. Maybe that's because of the backstories presented for both of them. I thought some of that wasn't that necessary, as it may contribute to the character as a single person, some of it didn't seem important to me in the context of these two finally coming together. Overall, it was cute and enjoyable, just not one that will stick out to me in the future. Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan for and advanced copy to give my thoughts!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for letting me listen to an advance copy of this audio book!

Heard it in a Love Song is a story about two people, coming out of divorces and trying to figure out what life looks like now. I really liked the characters and the back story, however it did feel a bit slow at times. However, I think the cover art is misleading. From the image I picture Leyla to be a 60s or 70s rocker, when in fact, she is singing at bars in a cover band in the 2000s.

All in all I give this book a solid 3 stars.

This is a new to me author, although I keep hearing about On the Island and will definitely need to check that one out as well.

First, the cover is gorgeous! I switched between audio and ebook while reading and both were fabulous!

Layla - recently divorced and trying to find who she is. She is a music teacher, but her love of music goes so much beyond and she lost that part of herself during her marriage and is trying desperately to rediscover that hidden deep in herself. She turns her basement into a studio and spends free time there becoming one with her music.

In the drop off line, she meets Josh and his daughter. Josh is going through a divorce. He and his soon to be ex were high school sweethearts and he's struggling to figure out who he is and where he belongs without the woman who was a part of his life since he was so young.

Both are a little hesitant to re-enter the dating world. But when Josh's daughter asks Layla to pet sit their dog, Norton, they get thrown together outside the drop off zone, and it's clear there's an attraction.

I enjoyed following their relationship and watching them both grow from what they had been through, find their passions, and realize you can be yourself and also be part of a healthy relationship.

Many thanks to Netgalley and both Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

After loving this author’s previous books, I was thrilled by the chance to read and review her upcoming 2021 release. In fact, I couldn't keep my hands off of it and read it almost as soon as it arrived on my kindle. I enjoyed the unique timeline between the present day of two newly divorced individuals and the past of their failed relationships.

The characters were strong, unique, and as a reader, I could feel their struggle against the newness of being on their own again. Divorce isn’t often written about in this way, and I’m sure its story will be relatable and appreciated by many who have been through it themselves.

The history of one of the characters as a band member turned music teacher was a fun and unique sub-story. When I saw that an audiobook version was now available to read I knew I had to hear how it sounded.
The voices in an audiobook can make or break it, and I am happy to report that it was everything I wanted and more. While I loved reading this one, I think I enjoyed it on audio even more. The narration and pacing were spot on and listening made me love this unique contemporary fiction novel even more.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my gifted copies. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Looking past the odd book cover which makes the heroine look a little like Mr. Magoo as a flower child from the 1970s, I rather enjoyed Heard It in a Love Song. Which, by the way, isn't historical.

This is a romantic women’s fiction novel that switches between the present day and flashbacks of both Josh and Layla’s history with their ex-spouses. In the present day, they are maneuvering through a new relationship together while still dealing with the messiness of their past marriages. All told in an easy-moving, low angst story.

Undoubtedly, the story was well-written and the writing was compelling. What surprised me was the lack of drama. There was a weaseling ex-husband, but the main relationship moves along sweetly and leisurely with only a couple of mild bumps along the way. I enjoyed it. Josh and Layla were lovely characters and how the relationship started and evolved felt authentic. As did the portrayal of divorce. The story wasn’t anything mind-blowing, but sometimes it’s nice to read an engaging book that gives you a feeling of contentment.

Note on the audiobook: Narrated by Andi Arndt, I enjoyed the audio presentation. I often think of Arndt voice in rom-coms and forget that she has a nicely rounded repertoire. The audiobook was a great way to enjoy this story.

I love Tracey’s storytelling. It hooks you in from the beginning. Beware, this story is told in third person, if you’re not a fan of that style. I like that we got to see the past stories for the hero and heroine BUT I need a glass of wine after this book. I’m so emotionally drained that the HEA ending didn’t even pull me up. I felt like there was too much story caught in the past with not enough present and future “happy” to combat the emotional turmoil we get to relive with them. Liam is a jerk! Was it a great story, yes but again, a little too much depressing, real life for me.
Andi Arndt does a fantastic job narrating.
The cover is stunning.

I loved the author’s previous book, “The Girl I Used to Know“, and have been waiting for this book since it was announced. I was thrilled to receive an advance review audiobook from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.

This was a sweet “second chance,” friends to lovers story. The story is told from two points of view: First, Layla is recovering from an 18-year marriage to an emotionally manipulative man. Layla is a music teacher and finds joy in performing for others. Her love of music plays a big part in her healing journey. About a year after her divorce, Layla meets Josh at the school his daughter attends. Josh is recently separated from his high school sweetheart and is struggling to figure out what went wrong.

Within each character’s story are flashbacks to how their first marriages broke up. The transitions from present to past is a bit jarring in the audio version. (I understand that the print version uses italics to indicate the recollections.) Perhaps a longer narrator pause or a simple narrated, “Before“ would make this less jarring.

The characters are well developed and their hesitancy to start another relationship after their failed ones is realistic. I liked watching how their relationship develops and how each learns not to doubt themselves.

Andi Arndt narrates both the male and female protagonist, and she did a nice job.

Another spectacular book by Tracey Garvis Graves. Learning to love again after divorce, trust again, move on. Layla and Josh's stories are different but so very similar. As someone that's been married for almost two decades, Heard It in a Love Song was so incredibly relatable as well.