This is such a slow burn that you don't get any relief until like the last 10 pages. About half way through I got confused and had to check again to make sure this was listed as a romance. It's much more a story about self discovery and learning to live with the choices you made.

I enjoyed the story but it was not at all what I was expecting. If you don't like slow burn romances, this is definitely not the book for you, but if those are your thing, well, have at it.

*Thank you to the publisher for this eARC.

Unfortunately, I didn't finish this book. I didn't enjoy the writing style, nor the story itself.
I do, however, appreciate being given the opportunity to read and review this book. Thank you.

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

DNF at 22%

I'm ok with a heroine who is a little down on her luck, or even a hero for that matter.

What I'm not ok is a heroine who makes decisions and then feels trapped and tragic about them.

This book, at least what I read of it, felt like watching a life unravel tragically. And it's hard to be excited about someone's new life when they aren't

I'm unable to recommend this title.

I would like to thank netgalley and Entangled Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Just didn't enjoy it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have not read a novel that I enjoyed this much in a very long time.
Campbell was a groupie when she was in her early twenties, then she met Jake, then married Jake and led a very boring and directed life for some twenty odd years. She finally had enough, got divorced and went on a weekend away with her bestie. She found out that the group she used to follow was making a comeback tour, first stop the hotel she was staying at. This was the start of Campbell coming back to life.
I do not want to give too much away, but this book goes into the rock star lifestyle and how Campbell lets loose to start a new life.
This is definite fun read. Do not miss it.

Former wild child Campbell gave up the life she wanted for the one she thought she should have. Beige and boring she isn’t living she’s existing. Enough! Days after the divorce was finalized Campbell gets a chance to discover which path was the one she should have taken. This is a terrific story of what ifs and second chances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

I almost didn't pick up this book, but a little voice in the back of my head said to give it a chance and I am so glad I did. From the dedication reminding me that I am not too old & it is not too late to follow my dreams, to watching the characters break down the walls they have built and really develop as people. I related to Campbell a lot and while some of the book seemed predictable (I also just seem to be good at guessing plot points so that could have been it too), reading how Julie unraveled the secrets everyone was hiding was wonderful.

This book really is an ode to music and an ode to finding oneself. The song lyrics in this book actually gave me goosebumps which is impressive, and the common thread throughout this book really reiterated that just because you are past your twenties doesn't mean you can't live your dreams & continue finding and creating the best version of you that you want to be. I think we as a society are so hung up on becoming what we made a decision in our late teens/early twenties to be, it was refreshing to see a reminder that just because you are in your forties doesn't mean you can't reinvent yourself. Life doesn't end just because you're older.

I know I am rambling at this point, but so much about this book was just the way it made me feel. It made me feel like I can still be the person I wanted to be when I was a kid, even if I am past the age that is "acceptable" to start pursuing those kinds of dreams. I felt the love in this book, and it really brought me joy. 4.5/5

I enjoyed this a lot -- I could relate to it but it also read very fun and fresh. This is definitely romantic but that almost took a backseat to the self discovery of the book. And it is not very sexy/hot at all but if you want a slow burn, this book might be for you. Definitely recommend and I will be looking for more from this author!!

He's With the Band comes out next week on January 17, 2022 and you can purchase HERE.

"Harrison. Due. You have got to chill on this. It isn't a big deal."
"It is a big deal. I specifically hired a photographer because we want to control the image of this tour. And the one bimbo Davis pulls out of the crows has a camera. How the hell did she even get it in? Where was security? You need to find out who she is and get those pictures."
I perked up. He was talking about me. Bimbo? Was it bad that sounded like a compliment to me? That seemed bad. But the more important word in that sentence was "camera."
And it gave me an idea. A crazy, wonderful idea.

This novel was a well written, nicely paced novel, told through first person present. Overall the read was enjoyable, but I found that I was reading a different book than I expected which make my overall enjoyment just mediocre. I think Julie Stone's writing is very well executed and that her heroine was compelling and interesting to read about, but the overall expectation of a romance was really lacking for me.

This novels focus is on Campbell, and her journey to rediscovering herself after her divorce. We spend the novel in her head while she rediscovers who she was before she was married and who she now wants to be now that she is not feeling stifled by her ex-husband. Campbell, through the help of her best friend, decides to take matters into her own hands and becomes a photographer (and commemorative book author) on a Band reunion tour. This is the same band that she has loved since she was in her late teens and early twenties and spent a year as a third tier groupie. During this new tour with the band, Campbell learns who the band and the people close to the band truly are, while learning that maybe childhood crushes and who she should really be considering might not be the same person.

Overall, this was a really lovely journey of discovery for Campbell. I found her to learn to be strong and independent. She learned to rediscover her love of photography, she learned to examine and understand how this band's music effected her and still does, and she learns to stand up for what she deserves. But, because this is not exactly what I was expecting I found myself a bit disappointed and left with a lack luster feeling. I was hoping to read a romance novel with a strong hero and heroine both at the center. While there is a romance, the main focus of the story is not on this romance. So, I really felt like I was missing out on many of the romantic elements I was hoping to get out of this story.

If you are looking for a novel about a women's rediscovery of herself, this is a great option. It has the fun background of a band on tour and it has a bit of liveliness because of the rock'n'roll life style while having a nice level of maturity. If you are looking for a story that has a slight romantic element but that is not the main focus, this is also a great option for you. Julie Stone's writing is definitely worth reading and her characters and charming and compelling.

Finally a romance with a middle-aged women - YES I am here for it!

He's in the Band rocks an unsuspecting second-chance at love. Campbell a middle-aged, divorcee, relives her glory days as a groupie only this time she gets to "officially" be the bands photographer. The life she dreamed took a backseat in her marriage and she's determined to right the wrongs of the past 20 years.

Reunited with the group she worshiped, she begins to learn the lyrics hold special meanings to person who truly wrote them. The sexual tension is swoon worthy, but I longed for a more of a descriptive narrative of Vince to sing out in the story. I wanted to his sexiness to ring out like the songs.

It was an enjoyable read but I wanted/needed a little more romance.

The story has promise, and the seasoned heroine, and rockstar, is a good start. The blurb did pull me in. But for this reader, the mark was missed. Campbell is in her 40’s, recently divorced, and gets an opportunity to go on the road with her favorite band from her younger years as their photographer. For me, the story did drag at times, and I would love more backstory about Vince.

If you enjoy second chance stories and enjoy rock star reads, this might be for you. Campbell is a good character, and we all need a friend like Marissa. I did enjoy Campbell’s growth. The book is a nice escape to the world of music.

Thank you, NetGalley and Entangled Publishing LLC, for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

Enjoyable read about a 40 year old woman on a self discovery quest after a divorce. One of first things she does is go to a rock concert of a band she was a groupie with 20 years ago and attaches herself to them as a band photographer. It's a stretch but tour manager seems to remember her and vouches for her

The reason I didn't give full five stars is that despite the brevity of her getting involved with band the book gets ponderous with her new career as "book" journalist. It's interesting but weighty.

And the tour manager gets distance and some point leaves and I hate that in books. Fighting even in real life at least communicates that you care but distancing gave Campbell or readers nothing

Thank you for ARC.

When Campbell was 19 she spent a summer following her favorite band on tour - Golden Tiger was was biggest rock band of the time and Campbell was a bit of a wild child. She never did manage to get on their tour bus but she did meet their stage manager Vince and got to know them in a way not many people did. At the end of that summer she met a man - and settled down for a pretty awful 20 year marriage. She's now finalizing her divorce and trying to figure out where to take the next stage of her life. After a drunken divorce celebration with her best friend - she buys tickets to the Golden Tiger reunion tour - and also quits her job in a moment of drunken bravery..

When Campbell hits Chicago she runs into Vince at the hotel and gets a second chance to pursue her photojournalism dreams and a second chance to live life on the road with the band. During that time she has to re-evaluate her views on the past and the impact on her life.

The big reveal at the end isn't a huge surprise - but it was a very satisfying ending. I did view this book more on the lines of chick-lit than a true romance, if that matters to you. There is definitely a strong romantic bent to this - but I felt it was more about Campbells own personal growth and second chances.

I give this one a very solid 3.5 stars.

I received it as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

He's with the Band is a music-centered second chance romance that I couldn't put down. Imagine being able to go on tour with your favorite band/musical artist? How cool! It even had me going through my closet, pulling out my NSYNC and Blink-182 band t-shirts to go along for the ride with the main heroine, Campbell.

When I read the synopsis, I was intrigued and so excited to read this book. I am happy to say that it exceeded my expectations. As the story begins, we are introduced to Campbell Cavett. She used to be a 'groupie' for the band Golden Tiger and now she finds herself living a life she never thought possible. The once passionate young woman is too used to living a 'proper' life where she tries to keep her demeaning husband happy no matter how much she loses herself in the process. So, when she sees Vince the band manager, and the band members again it ignites a fire in her. Will going back to that life help her find her way back to herself? Or is she just trying to fulfill a young fantasy?

She asks herself so many questions and it seems like fate nudges her when she receives a job offer to be the band's tour photographer on their reunion tour. The job means she gets to go to the shows for free, hang out with the band including with her crush, Davis, who is the lead singer/frontman of the band, and create a book filled with photos and stories of the history of Golden Tiger. She decides to take the job and it is anything but what she expected.

I don't want to give too much away, but I loved how much Campbell grew throughout the story. Her personality is so inviting and her vulnerability is so relatable. I love how much she gains her confidence in herself and in her job. She learns to know her worth and gets to find love in the process. I didn't expect her love interest to be who it was but it was the right choice.

I give He's with the Band 5 stars! The characters are fantastic with their charm and wit, the music vibe is smooth, and the romance is delicious. Author Julie Stone left me waiting for an encore performance. I didn't want this book and story to end. So worth the read!

It was an ok read. I like the idea of looking at roads less taken and exploring the what-ifs. The story moved along at a good pace overall however there were parts that were a bit heavy in parts and it seemed to slow down. Campbell, the female character seemed a little self-absorbed and did not really learn from past roads taken. The male character, Max, was not easy to read and although I figured out who was the writer in the band it could have been exposed earlier.

Twenty years ago Campbell Cavett was a groupie. Well, not exactly a lovelorn groupie but she was an amateur photojournalist following the hottest rock band around the country trying to get her foot on the tour bus. Blocked by an overprotective manager and a harem of girls with big hair, Campbell didn’t get the ticket to ride. Back to Iowa and normal people life, Campbell met Jake and has spent the last two decades suffocating in a loveless marriage. With their recent divorce finalized and a benign portrait studio job, Campbell doesn’t have a lot to lose or look forward to. In an attempt to recapture her youthful spirit, she and best friend Marissa buy tickets for the Golden Tiger reunion concert in Chicago. At 41, Campbell easily blends in with the roaring crowd of screaming middle aged women. Fighting her way to the front of the mob and being pulled onstage by Davis Scott - lead heartthrob, is a fantasy. Given the opportunity to photograph the band while on tour is just too good to be true. Campbell is not sure if she is more excited by Davis Scott himself or his manager Vince who is more handsome than she remembers. Diving deep into the rock star life on the road she always imagined, Campbell will do whatever it takes to make this journey a success. A story filled with second chances and rock n’ roll, I simply loved these characters! Could have replaced a bit of repetitiveness with some hot scenes, i.e. “The Idea of You”, but this is definitely a fun rockin’ read not to be missed!

Thank you @entangled_publoshing for a copy of He’s With the Band. A second chance romance about Campbell, recently divorced with no job and goes to a concert for Golden Tiger, her younger day obsession. This book is a fun take on BTS on a has been rock n roll group and also Campbell figuring out herself.

I found Davis’ character a little gross and they way he treated women and didn’t understand how Campbell or Marissa found him attractive. I wished there was more back story to Vince to give us a better idea and his attraction to Campbell. They story was a bit predictable but overall enjoyable.

Almost all of us dream of what it would be like to go on tour with a rock and roll band. In this book Campbell Cavett does it - twice! First as a young groupie, a story told in snippets and memories and then as a new divorcee looking to reclaim the intrepid, vivacious person she once was. A person trying desperately to recreate the past going back to the point in her life she loved most. But like all of us, trying to recreate the past doesn’t usually work. But understanding and learning from our past came make our future even better. This book was especially poignant and fun as it led me on a trip down memory lane of my own to a time when I was crew for a local band on their very regional tour. He’s With The Band is a very fun ‘Peek under the tent’ of a different sort of life.

He's With the Band by J. Stone, published by Entangled Publishing LLC, is a book that had me torn a bit. I was intrigued from the start because it got full speed - yay.
Campbell Cavett is a year old , freshly divorced photographer that gets somehow the job to photograph the reunion tour of her favorite rock band. A band she was a groupie of years ago. And here it starts. The heroine transforms into a whiny, drinking like a fish groupie again, hormone riddled, can't stay away from the lead singer, but rather should. She has no professional distance at all, wich she should have in my opinion when wanting to do a decent job. So as youz can see, the heroine has me a bit in a bind. I really really wanted to like her, but...
So and now the hero. I liked Vince, but I had to take not only a second, but a third look, he was just that bland and just not there. He was more like a vanishing wallflower and I just don't know.
So all in all. The story started out great, had some length further on, but turned out a decent read, stars.

Campbell is at a crossroads in her life. She is getting divorced and doesn’t know how she got to where she is and where she wants to go next. A drunken celebration sees her making a decision that sees her going back to revisit her past. Vincent has always lived in the background of the rock and roll band he managed. It is just the way he liked his life. He too is getting a chance to redo the past but he already knows the whole picture. The story is at times funny and sweet. The characters are a great mix of good friends and aging groupies. The story is poignant and hopeful. Love abounds and there is a happy ending for Campbell that is totally rock and roll.