Member Reviews

This book was so fun! As a fellow fangirl, I loved reading about Campbell joining Golden Tiger on tour and falling in love. The storyline and characters was predictable but adorable.

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He's with the Band is one of the BEST reads of the year! Totally original and sets the seeds of a series if Julie Stone is listening. Campbell and Vince's story is original and a joy to read. This book leaves the reader wanting more!

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This book was not for me. The character was constantly whining about how bad her life is and she never makes the right decisions, but never worked to make changes in her life.

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Reading this romcom left me with a want to read more of it, the story so crisp and fresh from the oven types. I’m more into fantasy books but reading these awesome stories is changing my mind, having the mature heroine and group is an incredible way to start. The concept of the story is totally new to me and I highly appreciate the intricate writing.

The story starts with Campbell getting divorced and wanting to find her old self which she left 20 years ago to marry. The journey to follow her favorite music band is an eye-opener for her in many terms and she gets clarity of her messed up life. A lot of good and bad decisions are made that lead to one big secret which I was not able to figure out at all.

Another character Vince is the band manager and the pillar for the band's functioning. He’s the most loved one in the band. Other members are fierce in their own ways and are rock and roll perfectly. The trajectory of the story is beautifully portrayed and Campbell’s character develops as flower buds from the plant. The story flows so much in sync that I lost time and devoured the book completely. The banter between Red and Vince is unmissable and gives a solid edge to the story.

I wanted to give this book 5 but in the end, I was left with so many questions. I wanted to see more of Vince and Campbell and wanted more in-depth revelation of the climax we saw, like how and when things get developed and why it was not acted upon. So many questions left untold about the band too. Basically, the story felt incomplete at the end, despite that fantastic end author wrote.

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Stone's He's With the Band is the reason Netgalley should offer first chapters without the download going towards a member's stats. Unfortunately, while Stone's romance had great promise thanks to its premise, and I do love an older heroine, I dislike reading romances written in the first person.

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The premise of this story intrigued me a lot. I like the later in life characters. Makes it more real. After a divorce, Campbell decides to go to a concert and let’s loose. I liked this book a lot. It kept me occupied and engaged the whole time.

I received this ARC and I am voluntarily reviewing this book.

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He's with the Band is the story of rediscovering yourself and getting back in touch with your youth. Campbell has just gotten divorced and decides to throw caution to the wind and go back to being a groupie/photographer for her favorite band. She meets back up with them and most importantly their band manager, Vince.

It was a really slow burn and slow in general for me. Even though I was the target age for this book, I had a tough time connecting with the characters and their journey.

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Newly divorced Campbell attends a reunion concert of her all time favourite band.
20 years ago Campbell was a groupie and followed the band on one of there tours.
Can she recreate what she experienced back then.

This was a good read, I loved Campbell and connected with her character. I understood how she felt after coming out of a divorce and not knowing who she is as a person.

The band were your typical ageing rock stars that wanted to capture their hey days with sex, drugs and rock and roll.

This was my first time reading this author and I will be definitely reading her books again.

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Julie Stone is a new-to-me author, but that’s never stopped me before. The blurb intrigued me, and the cover was cute, so I decided to jump right in. While it is a romance, this story felt more like women’s fiction than a romance, so if that’s going to turn you off, you might not care for this book. Despite that, I really enjoyed the story. It’s more about Campbell’s journey of self-discovery, and considering she’s relatively close to my age, there was a lot of her perspective to which I could relate. In spite of Vince's desire to be a wallflower except where Campbell is concerned, I also enjoyed his character.

Some parts felt a bit too out there, though. For example, Campbell seemed to have forgotten a little too much about the original tour. To me, it would have been quite an epic journey for her age and stage of life. I felt so much more would have been cemented in her memory. However, I believe the point Ms. Stone was attempting to highlight was how much we don’t always see or understand when we’re young that makes so much more sense upon later reflection.

The writing was delightful, and she had me hooked from the beginning. All in all, it was a very entertaining read with a food-for-thought message interwoven within the plot. I look forward to more from this author in the future.

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So I really wanted to love this book. The blurb made it sound really good, so I was hopeful. Especially because I am always looking for a new author. And while this was well written, it really didn't pull me in like I had hoped. Parts of the story were extremely slow for me, and honestly I skimmed over parts of it. And it honestly felt like I was reading a women's fiction book vs an amazing second chance, romance rock star book. And I always struggle with women's fiction. I think it's because I want to be taken out of my every day life and not want to think about these types of things when I am reading.

The story itself really isn't bad. It just missed the romance mark in my opinion. And I am sure some people may absolutely love it. Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. As much as I had hoped it would be based just off the blurb, it just wasn't.

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HE’S WITH THE BAND by Julie Stone is a contemporary,adult, rock romance story line focusing on one-time groupie turned amateur photographer Campbell Cavett and the rock band Golden Tiger.

Told from first person perspective (Campbell Cavett) HE’S WITH THE BAND follows one-time groupie turned amateur photographer Campbell Cavett, now forty two, as she finds herself the band-photographer for the reunion tour of Golden Tiger. Golden Tiger disbanded over twenty years earlier, just months after our heroine spent a glorious summer as a rock band groupie but Campbell Cavett, for all her wants and desires, never had the full groupie experience, thanks in part by the actions of the band’s manager Vince Caparelli, the man who controlled everyone in and out of Golden Tiger’s life. Fast forward more than twenty years, and the first night of the tour, Campbell comes face to face with the same tour manager, who hasn’t forgotten our story line heroine. Hired to take pictures, and write about the band, Campbell slowly discovers that all is not as it appears to be, including the manager’s connection to the band. As Campbell begins to dissect the individual members of the band, our heroine finds herself on the outside looking in, as secrets reveal the truth about what happened years before.

HE’S WITH THE BAND is a back-stage pass, so to speak, about the lives of a band that imploded years before. Within months of Campbell’s journey with Golden Tiger, the band fell apart, following the release of a disastrous album but as Campbell begins to unravel the truth about the members of the band, a secret once kept is about to reveal the heart break and pain of unrequited love.

HE’S WITH THE BAND is a journey of discovery for not only the band but for our story line heroine. Campbell Cavett’s marriage had imploded, and a mid-life crisis, of a sorts, finds Campbell trying to relive the summer that was but no longer is. The premise is entertaining and captivating; the romance is subtle; the characters are interesting and engaging-the slow build up to the twist is revealed a little at a time.



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This book was what it was, and was a fun enough book. Fun book, second chances, and an easy escapist read. I've recommended it a few times and people enjoyed it, so aces all around!

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This story was just what I needed to read by the warm and cozy fireplace.
That hidden teen in me loved to read about how midlife boring Campbell gets her life back (in a way) after her divorce. She gets a chance of a lifetime to follow the band around the country again as the band’s photographer and biographer. It was such a fun and interesting read, I even had a moments when I was laughing out loud.
Characters were likeable and nicely developed.
Storyline was great with a few surprises toward the end. But all in all, I really enjoyed reading it, I recommend it
Thanks to Entangled and Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

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Campbell is newly divorced and not sure what happens next when she spots that Golden Tiger are going on tour. 20 years ago she followed them on tour, just wanting a chance to get in with the band. Will she get her chance know, or will Vince still be getting in her way?
A fun read!

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This is a contemporary romance which starts with divorce
After twenty-three years together it is Campbell Cavett's choice.
She's had enough of endeavouring to conform to him and his needs
Instead she's rebelling as divorce party wine her bravery feeds.

Campbell resigns from the job that she hates
And instead plans to trust more in the fates!
Before marriage she followed the Golden Tiger on tour
They're touring again - so she's going once more.

Her camera in hand, she and friend go to the gig
Where about rules and more she doesn't give a fig.
She ends up on stage, dancing and photographing the band
She never dreamt just where that would have her land!

Touring as the band's official photographer now
She's a job to do that's brilliant, but she isn't sure how!
Back stage passes, hotels, mixing with the band and more
She's remembering her life from before.

However there are secrets that she accidentally discovers
Should she keep them to herself or share them with others?
As she gets to know better the band and their crew
Who'd dream there'd also be a romance opportunity, too?

Get ready to have an exciting life on the road with the band,
Trying to ensure nothing gets completely out of hand.
With drama unfolding whilst she's living this new life
There's also brewing some troubles and strife.

What a heartwarming read of re-finding yourself again
After a bland life trying to fit in caused nothing but pain.
It's inspirational and fun, sharing rock and romance
And showing what happened when love's given another chance.

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I throughly enjoyed reading it and this is my honest review.

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I enjoyed this book. 3.5 stars, rounded up. In my opinion it's more of a coming of age than it is an actual romance book. Very music forward. It has the vibes of the movies Rockstar and Almost Famous to me. It didn't focus much on romance until close to the end. Campbell is living her dream of being on the road with her favorite band. She's learning a new career, a new life without having a husband. It's definitely cool to read her growing and learning. I love that the characters are not super young too. It's rare to read a book about a 40 year old. It was refreshing. I recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC!

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What a unique idea for a story. Well the entire plot may not be so unique but Campbell is. She’s the most boring of wives. She’s adapted to everything her husband thought necessary in life and it’s all so foreign to the girl she was when they met and married. She’d given up following the band from concert to concert to a vanilla, or beige, life taking photos of obnoxious kids. How did that happen. As we meet her though she’s divorcing boring, controlling Jack and learning to soar again. But there’s a big surprise waiting with the band. Well, several big surprises really.

I feel Campbell. How many of us get to this stage in our lives? I know I have. You wake up and years and years have gone by and you don’t even recognize yourself. She does decide to change and change starts with divorce. In a drunken ceremony she and her friend, Marissa buy tickets to see the reunion tour of the band she was a groupie all those years ago. Groupie in the sense of following them but sadly never actually getting into the inner circles. She’s not unknown to the band and is quickly remembered by their manager who refused her entrance to all those after parties, etc. She remembers the band well but had forgotten about Vince. As soon as she sees him though memories start trickling back.

Vince never forgot Campbell. He’s glad to see her back but is so closed of you’d never know it. He’s still trying to keep her away from heartthrob Davis Scott. The story is complex and nothing is the fluff you might expect from a huge band or a wannabe groupie. The band isn’t full of bickering divas. They’re still close friends, including Vince. And Vince….he’s an enigma and so much deeper than Campbell realizes.

It’s fun to watch Campbell grow into a woman she likes and uses her immense talents to launch a career. It’s frustrating but ultimately heartwarming to watch Vince. Did I say frustrating? Cause man….he’s a tough one. There’s so much back and forth, up and down between these two. There’s tension with the record label that makes both their lives harder and add some serious conflict to the book. There’s just a lot to keep the reader invested. I enjoyed it all.

Thanks to Entangled: August and NetGalley for the ARC.

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When Campbell divorces her husband, sells her house, and goes to see her favorite band on their reunion tour, she has no idea she’ll become the band’s photographer. While she thinks she wants to be with the lead singer, Campbell and Vince, the band manager, actually are the two who belong together. This was a unique story that kept me wondering what would happen next and if Campbell would figure out she was better off with Vince. I really enjoyed this story and I think you will too.

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This romance was a wonderful and enjoyable story. I am a sucker for the second chance trope, and this story delivers it in such a great way that I hadn't ever read before. When life gives Campbell a chance to make a different decision she seizes it quickly. This amateur photographer gets the chance to tour with one of the biggest rock bands, but this band just happens to be the band she walked away from 20 years before.

Now she is brought back into the orbit of people that used to mean so much to her, and honestly still seem to. Especially one person in particular.

This romance was so well done, and I never wanted to put it down. I love seeing the events that unfolded and the romance that reblooms. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book.

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What a fantastic vintage rock and roll romance! Our darling Campbell is going thru a post-divorce, mid-life crisis and what a way to go! She wakes up after a wild wine night to find she is jobless, almost homeless and planning a road trip to see her teenage dream band’s reunion tour. Golden tigers was a band in which she, in her early twenties, had followed around the country for a year. A wannabe groupie, Campbell was always blocked access to those rock Gods by their strict yet hot manager, Vince.

Now twenty years later, Campbell is a mature chick who still has a crush on the lead singer, Davis. She uses her groupie memory moves to maneuver to the front row of the show. Just then, her rock idol Davis pulls her up on stage to serenade, and she is whisked backstage with a promise to the afterparty with the band. Enter a gracefully aged, Vince. Still the hot manager blocking her access again to the lead singer.

Vince offers her a dream gig to follow this tour with her camera as the official photo/biographer. Basically now “She’s with the Band”. While Campbell is still after a hook up with Davis, her mature self sees that as a career ending move, even if she is unsure of the future of said “career”. Vince and Campbell begin retracing their shared jaunts of her younger year following the band. Slowly getting to know each other again and remembering all their interactions thru a new lens.

Piecing together her photography and the interviews with the band members, Campbell connects the stories of the past weaved into their hit song lyrics. She eventually uncovers Golden Tiger’s carefully hid secret, and it puts her in jeopardy of tanking this newfound career she has successfully cultivated during the present tour. And effectively torpedoes her second chance romance of a lifetime.

“He’s With the Band” is refreshing as our authoress, Julie Stone, writes her strong middle-aged characters with grace and maturity. Most of their interactions and relationships are relatable for our Mid-Life Goddess readers. The only thing missing was “what the hell were all these guys doing for the last 20 years?” Throw in some serious serendipity, unrequited young love, rock and roll and it is a fabulous read.

I was given an e-ARC from Entangled Publishing and the author in exchange for an honest review.

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