I have enjoyed all of Kerry Winfrey's adult romances and Just Another Love Song is no exception. Second chance romance (especially when the couple is each other's first love) is one of my favorite tropes. The relationship between Sandy and single-dad musician Hank gripped me instantly.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

High School Sweethearts Sandy and Hank thought they would last forever. The plan was to go to colleges in the same city and that nothing would change. The reality was that Sandy's college plans fell through, and she stayed home while Hank left. Staying in their small town left Sandy feeling stifled, and worried that she would stifle Hank, so she broke it off rather than hold him back. But her life has been meh since Hank stepped out of it. Until he returns to town 15 years later and shakes things up. Their old chemistry is still there, yet Sandy can't help holding back. The life she's built is safe, and Hank feels anything but that with the baggage he's acquired over the last 15 years.

A small quirky town, a first love, and the one who got away - this second chance romance is pretty much perfection. Kerry Winfrey is great at infusing humor and believability into her stories. I always enjoy her books, and this one might be my favorite yet!

Just Another Love Song by Kerry Winfrey is not just another romcom. It is better. I think this authors books just flow so well from beginning to end and thoroughly entertain me along the way.
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Cue all the homey, small time feels, a sweet second chance romance, fantastic friends I would like to meet in real life, add in a sweet little boy and a dog and you have a book that checks off all my boxes.
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This latest release (it came out yesterday!) by the author that gave is Waiting for Tom Hanks, Not Like in the Movies and others was a quick, easy read, perfect for these lazy days of August or when you have a few seconds to grab while getting ready for the school year.
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Small town art-loving girl tutors small town guitar-playing boy. They fall in love and talk about their big dreams of leaving their small town. Boy leaves town to become a famous country musician, girl breaks up with him and stays in the small town so as to not stand in the way of his dreams. Girls spends next 10 years regretting her decision and building a new life. Boy returns to town years later to help out with the local fair. We see where this is going right? I loved every bit of it.

To be fair, I wanted to slap Sandy throughout most of the book. The whole “I’d hold him back from his happiness and I don’t deserve love anyway” martyrdom bit got a little old. Put on your big girl pants and go after what you want already. Hank on the other hand was my favorite, and he handled her nonsense

I would watch this movie in a heartbeat.

I haven’t read any of Kerry Winfrey’s previous books (yet!), but if they’re anything like this one I definitely plan on catching up.

I actually thought is book was kind of cute. It was whitty but lighthearted and I for one am in love with the "one that got away" trope. I love it! Hank and Sandy are super cute and deserved their happily ever after after all.

Kerry Winfrey knows how to write a comfy, cozy, light-hearted romantic comedy. This is no different. Just Another Love Song is pretty formulaic. It isn't groundbreaking. But it is the perfect love story for those looking for comfort and escapism. Winfrey's strength lies in her characters - realistic, funny, likable. I feel like I would hand out with Sandy if she were real. And she captures the feeling of being in your thirties and realizing your life isn't exactly what you wanted - even though you are content with it.

Romance can be an oversaturated market, but Winfrey's stories always have good characters that you root for. A flaw I see in many other love stories is that the drama is over the top, the leads are (sometimes) just terrible people, and the situations/dialogue is cringey. Winfrey's books are not like that. This is a solid, trope-filled story and that is exactly what I wanted from it.

Just Another Love Song is a quick read about a quirky hometown and a second-chance love.

(I received an e-ARC from Netgalley.)

Possible spoilers

This was truly a disappointment for me. Sandy’s insecurities, especially towards the end, were so off-putting that I almost didn’t finish. In a nutshell, it’s another small town, second chance romance between high school sweethearts who break up and live separate lives for 15 years. They both had dreams of becoming successful artists (Hank a musician and Sandy a painter). However, when Sandy’s scholarship falls through, Hank still goes off to Boston and finds success while she stays behind to attend community college and eventually take over the gardening business she began working at after Hank leaves. In the long time they’re apart, she convinces herself she’s stuck in Baileyville and that nothing can change, but when Hank comes home, looking to rekindle their relationship, she’s too scared and too deep in denial to risk taking the chance.

Insecure women who make decisions for their lovers, who hide behind the lie that other people “need” them, and who reject love out of fear are a major pet peeve for me. Sandy epitomizes this. If this trope appeals to you, read this book because, if nothing else, there is a colorful cast of characters, a great group of friends, and a swoon-worthy love interest. However, if you’re more into strong female characters, skip this.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I LOVE second-chance romance titles, and I'll pick up anything Winfrey writes as a fellow Ohioan and having read many of her previous books, so I was prepared to swoon right through this one.

Winfrey writes characters that make me want to get to know them better, and/or claim them as my own friends. Sandy's friendships and the community seemed like a dream, and I loved how even though she thought she gave up her dreams of growing up and moving away, her success didn't stop her from realizing there was still MORE she wanted from life. I think that was what resonated with me most in this book, the idea that things can be going well but still you can feel like something is missing no matter who or what you are.

"Life wasn't a book with a series of mistakes and miscommunications hat led to a happily ever after - it was real life, where everything didn't happen for a reason."

Sandy and Hank were high school sweethearts torn apart by distance, and Winfrey gives us such a relatable main characters with moments from the past and present. I enjoyed the character arcs through the longing, the small town feels, the way they both think they're doing what's right for the other SWOON. How can you not love the idea of a musician pining after his love through his music, and getting to tell her it was always her?

I don't know about the rest of the world, but I could relate to the small town, end of summer festival, they really are so common here in Ohio. From fried food to the idea of friends and neighbors coming together, the reunion and meetups of people who hadn't seen each other in 15 years all of it left me with such nostalgic, happy thoughts and I love that everything Winfrey writes tends to leave me with those warm fuzzy feelings. Give me all the warm summer vibes, sunshine and good times at the fair, anytime!

"Yes, but fried Oreos are like a bad relationship. I can't stay away, even though they make me feel terrible."

Thank you to Berkley Romance for providing me a digital copy of the book to read and review, and for having me on this blog tour, 4.5 stars for me -- head over to booksaremagictoo.com to read more!

Read if you like:
❤️ Romances
❤️ Second chance romances
❤️Heartfelt stories
❤️High school sweethearts

This one was such a feel good story with wonderfully developed characters!

The supporting characters were so well done in this one as well that I can’t imagine having read this without all of their influence into the story, this one definitely got the characters all right and such a good job of wrapping things together!

It doesn't get much better than Kerry Winfrey + a second chance romance story! Ms. Winfrey absolutely knocks it out of the park with this delightful and heart-warming read. I found it not only endearing but comforting and peaceful as I enjoyed the reading experience immensely as I watched the story unfold. I really recommend this book....for a "feel good"....for a "pick me up" or for a just spectacular story!!

"𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥'𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘛𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦. 𝘐'𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬. 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘭𝘭-𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐'𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘰."

Does anything capture the hope, obsession and utter folly of first love quite like that line? 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗚 is the first Kerry Winfrey book I've read and I'm as head-over-heels as teenage Sandy was about Hank.

This small-town second chance romance even had me, a total city girl, wishing I could spend an extended vacation in fictional Baileyville, which is like Stars Hollow but with a much cooler town fair and a guy known as Hotpants Ed. You may come for Sandy and Hank's love story but you'll stay for the quirky secondary characters (please let there be a Shelby sequel!), the references to Amish romance novels and a squirrel who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. My only quibble was that I wish we got more of Hank's music but it's a small one.

Now excuse me while I go dive into Winfrey's backlist...

Thanks to Berkley Publishing for the copy to review.

4.5 stars

Sandy and Hank, two high school sweethearts get a second chance for romance.

I enjoyed every minute of this one! Hank and Sandy made the sweetest couple, the small town was charming, and the romance was closed door. Hank was a musician and Sandy was a business owner and I was rooting for them to get together every step of the way. I also loved that the majority of the book took place at the town's fair.
It was such an entertaining read and sprinkled throughout there were mentions of songs and TV shows that I enjoyed when growing up that brought back a ton of memories and nostalgia. I highly recommend!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sandy Macintosh is happy living in small town Ohio, where she owns a successful greenhouse and her parents run the town's bed and breakfast. Everything is perfect and Sandy is content with her life, until her high school sweetheart Hank comes back to town. Hank, a now famous country singer, is also a father and presumed married (or at least he was the last time Sandy saw him). The pair keep running into each other, which makes Sandy contemplate what might have been had she not broken up with Hank all those years ago.

I liked Sandy's character and character arc throughout the book. She yearns for companionship, but pickings are slim in her small town. But she doesn't really realize how lonely she is until Hank shows back up and shakes her world upside down. Hank was the real highlight of the book for me. He is incredibly sweet, nostalgic, and completely adorable. I love how he relentlessly pursues Sandy throughout the book and doesn't give up. I really enjoyed the back and forth timelines in the first half of the book, which slowly revealed the truth about the past between Hank and Sandy. It kept me guessing and wanting to know what happened between them all those years ago.

I enjoyed this one more than Winfrey's last book, but not as much as her first two books. As a romance reader, I understand there are beats writers hit. However, there were times the book felt formulaic to this point and it left me wanting more from the story and the characters. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the book and the writing is well done, but I was just hoping for a deeper development of the characters and the plot.

Just Another Love Song is a second chance, closed door small town romance. It discusses depression and dyslexia. Thanks to Berkley Romance for the advanced copy of the book.

Just Another Love Song was the first book I read by Kerry Winfrey, but it definitely had me asking why I waited to read something written by her. The writing and setting pulled me in right from the start and only my need for sleep stopped me from finishing this book in one go.


The town of Baileyville is what I see as a perfect small town I would love to live in. The author made me feel like I was living there and I loved how everything was described. Add in some fun, sweet, and quirky characters and it had me wanting to pack up my bags and move. I also really appreciated Sandy's relationship with her best friend, Honey, and the moments we read about them being together.


Sandy is a character that had a lot of dreams growing up, but when a scholarship falls through her life took a turn she wasn't expecting. Fast foward fifteen years and she's in the same town she said she was going to leave. I liked Sandy and disliked her at the same time. I loved her sense of humor, what she built for herself, and how loving she was with her friends. But Sandy was also her worst enemy. She constantly talks about being happy where she is, but it's clear to just about everyone it's not the dream she had in mind. I definitely think she worked against herself on multiple occasions.


I love the second chance romance trope and was definitely curious about Hank and how they fit together. The flashbacks in the beginning throughout different chapters were something I really enjoyed and felt we got to know the kind of relationship these two had. That's where it kind of got difficult for me, because I don't feel like we every really got to know the Hank we got now. It really stayed on the surface for me and I would've loved just a bit more depth. Something we probably would've gotten if we had his POV ( dual POV is something I think every romance should have).


That being said Just Another Love Song was still a heartwarming romance that I really enjoyed. It left me with a big smile on my face and I enjoyed some of the song lyrics we got a few times in the book. I definitely wouldn't mind the author taking us back to this small town a few more times.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for my eARC!

Sandy Macintosh is perfectly content with the life she's built for herself in smalltown Ohio after her dreams of moving to Boston with her high school boyfriend Hank Tillman were squashed 15 years ago.

But when the alt-country artist returns to town so his son can spend more time with his family, Sandy starts to realize the feelings she buried after Hank went away to school are closer to the surface than she thinks. And when he involves himself in the Baileyville Street Fair, an annual tradition where the entire town get involved and she just so happens to be on the board, they have to decide if they're ready to move forward together.

KERRY WINFREY DOES IT AGAIN, FOLKS. As a suburban Ohioan who chose to stay at home through college, Sandy holds a special place in my heart. Winfrey paints Sandy's emotions with a brush and colors I know all too well and her feelings of restlessness are something everyone has felt at some point. I appreciated how, while Sandy wanted to get out of Baileyville in her youth, that she still built a life there and didn't want to fully commit to leaving that life behind.

The relationship between Sandy and Hank was straight up perfection and even though a touring musician isn't exactly a normal job, the problem of intertwining their lives felt like the grooves of my own life. It doesn't hurt that this read came into my life at exactly the right time, but this is Winfrey's best so far.

I used to think I wasn’t a fan of second chance romances. I tend to hold a grudge, and the idea of forgiving and forgetting just wasn’t something I was fully on board with. Maybe it’s because I’m at a place in my life with a little more perspective on personal growth, but now I just love the idea that two people can part ways, grow a little (or a lot) and find their way back to each other at just the right time in their lives.

Kerry Winfrey has a way of just bringing you into the fold of an established group of characters, and making them feel like old friends you’ll root for no matter what. Her writing is truly like a warm hug! Our main characters, Sandy Macintosh and Hank Tilllman were high school sweethearts. They each had big dreams–Sandy of becoming an artist, and Hank a musician. Only Hank was able to pursue those dreams, and Sandy ends up severing ties to– in her eyes– set Hank free.

Fifteen years later, Hank’s a famous singer, a single dad, and back in their small town. Sandy thinks she's content running a successful greenhouse and helping out her parents with their Ohio-themed B & B, but Hank reignites the flame that never quite got fully extinguished. It was so sweet to see them get to know each other again, and fill in the blanks of the last decade (plus). The interactions with Hank’s son were super adorable, and I really enjoyed the nostalgic elements from their past. Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for a review copy!

I really enjoyed this book. I like second chance romances and the town and its people were really fun to read about. I will continue to read books by Kerry Winfrey. 4.5 stars.

I'll admit, I expected Just Another Love Song to read like Just Another Small-Town Romance. Based on the cover blurb about Sandy Macintosh and Hank Tillman, high school sweethearts reunited, I assumed the book would be set in an overly cute, overly perfect small town where nothing goes wrong and everyone is married to their true love.

But the town of Baileyville, Ohio is much quirkier and more real than I expected. If I ever make it out to Ohio on a road trip I'll be disappointed if I can't find a B&B to stay at like the Ohio Inn owned by Sandy's parents, where every room is themed after a famous Ohioan. And although there are many happy residents of Baileyville, there's also a recognition that small-town life isn't for everyone. The options for romance are limited, as are the career opportunities - which is why Sandy and Hank once dreamed of getting away to pursue their dreams of art and music, respectively.

Unfortunately, a lost scholarship prevented Sandy from attending the art school of her dreams, so she was left behind in Baileyville when Hank left to become a musician. In the 15 years since high school, Hank has become a world-famous country singer, while Sandy owns her own home and is a successful businesswoman in her own right. When their paths finally cross again, they're both content with their lives… but not quite happy. Sandy never left home to try to make something of herself in the art world, and Hank has one unsuccessful marriage behind him - although he got an adorable and cherished son out of it.

The chemistry between these two isn't the sparky kind, but it feels like the natural pull of two people who know each other well and just fit. In flashbacks from their high school days we get to see how Sandy and Hank first fell in love, how they shared their deepest thoughts and feelings with one another, and how Sandy broke things off when she felt insecure about holding Hank back. It's an age-old story, but it’s nice to see things come to a resolution as Hank reappears in Sandy's life.

That's not to say that the resolution is easy for either of them. Hank has come back to Baileyville to build a base for his son Henry while the boy is at school. His life and career may take him all over the world, but he wants some level of consistency for Henry during the school year. Although things are messy with his divorce and the logistics of co-parenting, Hank seems very settled in himself and what he wants. And one of those wants, now that he's back in Baileyville and single, is to renew his old friendship with Sandy and see if there could be something more between them.

Sandy is a much more conflicted character, and I liked her the better for it. While Hank is nice, calm, and responsible… that gets a little boring. Sandy is also responsible - she owns her own business and house, makes time to help her parents regularly with their B&B, and maintains strong friendships with other women in town. But for all that she has a perfectly lovely life which she enjoys, there's a thread of discontent in Sandy. She always wanted to get out of Baileyville and see the world, but she feels that opportunity has passed her by. When Hank returns she goes out of her way to avoid him, trying to evade both the memories of her teenage heartbreak and the clear eyes of someone who knows how badly she wanted to leave Ohio and can see how unhappy she is with staying.

Naturally, that goal of avoiding Hank isn't attainable for long. As soon as Sandy has one chance meeting with him, it seems like he's everywhere, and she can't help but fall back into the rhythm of their old relationship. Sandy fights for a while to just stay friends with Hank, but the emotional intimacy that grows between them is so significant that there's essentially nothing left to lose by making it a real relationship. That’s definitely one of this book's strengths - developing the emotional bond between Sandy and Hank to the point that it’s palpable and satisfying to see them move together toward a relationship.

While the simplicity of Hank's character keeps this at a B, I must say I enjoyed Just Another Love Song much more than I expected. Watching these high school sweethearts reunite is very satisfying, and its nuanced porrtayal of Baileyville, Ohio made me long to visit small-town America, even as it reminded me why I love living in a city. Who knows - maybe a stay at a themed B&B is in my future.

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I straight up loved this book! It is a small town romance with witty banter, a great group of friends and second chance at love. Not to mention a lot of this book focuses on their small town fair which is so reminiscent of our town’s Fall Fest.
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Sandy and Hank were high school sweethearts planning on escaping their small town life until life got in the way. When Hank returns 15 years later he is now a famous country singer with a son and Sandy has made a successful life for herself. It may not have been the life she planned but she is happy, or so she thought until Hank re-enters her life.
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I really loved Sandy and Hank and their group of friends. I have loved everything @kerrywinfrey has written but this is my new favorite!
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This book is out tomorrow!

Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this small town, second chance, former high school sweethearts romance! It’s sweet, entertaining, and will definitely keep a smile on your face the whole time you are reading it.

Baileyville is a small town that definitely gives me Stars Hollow vibes. Hank and Sandy were high school sweethearts with big plans to get away and chase their dreams. But when Sandy’s plans fall apart and she gets left behind, she feels like she is holding Hank back from everything he is hoping to become. Fifteen years after Sandy let Hank get away, he is now a country superstar. When he unexpectedly shows back up in Baileyville, with his son in tow, Sandy is forced to face the feelings she never lost.

I DEVOURED this book for so many reasons. The first and foremost is it was SO nice to read a book where the main characters were in their 30s. As a 30 something myself, I can’t tell you how much I related to Sandy. This was a refreshing small detail that made the world of difference for me in this story.

I enjoyed the author's writing style immensely! This was my first book by her and it definitely won’t be my last. I laughed SO many times. And where she really shines? Side characters. Holy smokes this one is full of a cast of hilarious and loveable characters that add so much to an already enjoyable story. Hotpants Ed needs his own book. I have questions!

I can’t forget all the great references sprinkled throughout this gem. Be on the lookout for the mention of songs and TV shows that will definitely take you back. Adorable, funny, and all around enjoyable this is definitely one to have on your radar.

Pick this one up if you love:
-Second Chance Romances
-Small Town Vibes
-Single Dad love interest
-High School Sweethearts
-Highly relatable and laugh out loud moments
-Nostalgia that hits close to home, especially for the 30 somethings