Sexy hair band front man with a hidden nerd side meets a reformed theater diva and rat mom. How can this romance not work? This was a spicy one and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I wasn't convinced that I liked Erika to begin with, but she really grew on me. And Cristof is the perfect mix of confident rockstar, yet responsible and uptight band manager. The insta-lust was balanced by the humor and was just a fun binge-read.

If you love lighthearted romance and 80s metal, this is one for you!

There's a lot of funny moments and an interesting setting but I wasn't a fun of the characters and I felt that the chemistry was missing
Not my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This is a gender-swapped, rom-com retelling of Phantom of the Opera between a former Broadway diva and the frontman for a German hair metal band. It’s bonkers, fun, and sexy — and kind of wild in a way you just have to roll with. I mean that as a positive thing! I definitely got old-school romance vibes in the best way.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Full disclosure that this author and I share an agent, but that did not influence my review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Erika Green thinks she has it all. She's a Broadway star, set to become one of the biggest names on Broadway before an accident changes her life. Two years later, she's in Paris...Nevada, trying to save the run-down theatre and brothel she inherited from her grandmother. Things take a turn when a German hair metal band books her opera house to use for a few weeks to write their new album.

What a fun, spicy little read! It's a gender-bending take on Phantom of the Opera in some ways, and I enjoyed that. I also love that Erika is unapologetic about being a "bad" girl. She knows she has flaws and owns them. She also comes to trust herself and learn what she's really looking for over the course of the novel, and I love that growth. I love all the idiosyncratic, unique personalities in this book as well. There's a little over the top at times, but it makes for a fun read.

I really enjoyed Jen Comfort's THE ASTRONAUT AND THE STAR so I was looking forward to reading MIDNIGHT DUET, and I was not disappointed. Her voice is so funny and strong, and I loved all of the musical theater nods and allusions. Erika is a diva, and I loved watching her journey to love. I also loved the German glam rock band and Christof in all of his glory. The dialogue is very funny and I liked the Nevada setting.

So this was different (in a good way) . Erika is a bit dramatic but she’s written that way in purpose since this is slotted at a Phantom of the Opera retelling. Christof was a more likable character for me but he still had some flaws as well. I would have liked a little more character development for them both though. They had decent chemistry and the steamy scenes were not over the top. But there was a bit of insta love here. This is my second book by this author and I do see improvement in her writing since her debut. I would be willing to read more from her in the future

There were a lot of great things in this book, like the relationship between the characters and the setting. The setting was definitely one of the strongest points of this book for me, I loved the descriptions and how vivid every room was for me.

This was not my vibe and that's okay. The premise is cool. I was definitely open to a sexy Phantom spin, but I am not connecting with the lead character. I will still recommend this to customers looking for something quick, fun and unique. It is well-done! I am simply not the audience.

I'm a huge fan of romance novels, and of musicals. 'Phantom of the Opera' was the first musical I've seen at the West End, and it's by far my favourite, so this book was a no-brainer for me. I really enjoyed this fun, emotional, sweet book! Jen Comfort's modernised romance riff of Phantom of the Opera's very well-done, with enough nods to the musical to satisfy fans of that, but enough inventiveness for the book to be wholly original. In this retelling, Erika is a former Broadway star, who's moved to an ancestral home/opera house, after a bad accident that leaves her scarred and her self esteem in tatters. Struggling to keep the property afloat, she rents it out to hot new German hair metal band, Nacht Musik ( don't you just love how...authentic that name sounds? I really want an actual band called that now!). Nacht Musik's charismatic frontman/manager/songwriter/babysitter for all practical purposes, Christof Daae, has a secret he doesn't want his band to know, and is struggling to hold it all together, and write a follow up album that will do as well as their breakout debut. I loved that Comfort did a gender reversal, firstly, of the Phantom of the opera, and her writing of the rockstar lifestyle doesn't slip into the cliches of 'sex, drugs, rock'n' roll', it's a lot more nuanced than that! Christof is an absolutely adorable, stressed-out hero and Erika is an excellent tortured but also really funny and cynical heroine. I loved all the band members as well, they're all quite memorable despite the focus not being on them. There's a lot of clever references dropped in, too, not just from the world of musicals, but from the world of rock music too. Hugely enjoyable, I read this at one go!

4.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Jen Comfort is quickly becoming a go-to author for a more unique spin on contemporary romances. Her debut, The Astronaut and the Star, was a lot of fun, and Midnight Duet is even more so, being a wonderful mix of bonkers, over-the-top melodrama and enough heart to keep it grounded. I didn’t know until now that I wanted a modern Phantom of the Opera retelling, much less how it could be done, but Jen Comfort has very much succeeded in every respect.

I love the Phantom being reimagined as Broadway star Erika Greene, who is recovering from the double blow of a physically scarring accident and the emotionally scarring press she received, naming her as a “bad girl diva who got a dose of karma.” With so many stories of this ilk (either Phantom or Beauty and the Beast inspired) emphasizing the physical scarring in an ableist way, I liked that the book showed the impact of the injury and her thought process when she thinks about others’ reactions, without it being the sole trait that defines her or the only reason she chose to run off in the first place. She’s a pretty good balance of self-confidence and vulnerability throughout, with believably growth over the course of the book.

Christof is the lead singer of a hair metal band Nactmusik (and one of their hits is called “Devil of Music” xD), and he’s dramatic in his own way, that doesn’t clash with Erika’s. While Erika likes to be in the spotlight, Christof is more of a type-A perfectionist type. Their respective flairs for the dramatic play off each other well, both professionally and personally.

While the romantic arc is the center of the narrative, I loved seeing the clever ways it paid homage to plot beats of Phantom, with the external plot being as over the top as the characters, if not more so. However, I did feel that the external plot/internal romantic arc balance felt a bit off balance towards the end, with it ending on a big finish without a matching amount of emotional catharsis.

In spite of any minor flaws, I loved this book, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a romance with equal emphasis on plot and character development, especially if you love music or the theater.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Midnight Duet releases January 10, 2023

3.5/5

A gender reversal take on The Phantom of the Opera — this read definitely took me by surprise.

Erika, a highly talented Broadway singer, is victim to a falling stage light that burns and scars half of her face. Hiding from the fallout of this, she retreats to Paris, Nevada, where a theater (Paris Opera House) inherited from her family that is in need of severe repairs awaits her.
In order to come up with the financial means to keep this theater in her possession, she books a band from Germany that are hoping to use this venue as the inspo for their new album.

Erika’s character arc is based on themes of “bad things happen to bad people”, therefore she’s trying her best to become a better person and balance the scales of what she does or does not deserve. A bit of a reformed character trope here.

There was clear tension in this between Erika and Cristof — the organ scene, the closet, and the dominance/need for control in the bedroom — whew. Some definite dark desires lingering with mild exhibitionism and the thrill of being caught.

The band’s vocalist and keyboardist, Gillian, had no interest in making the trip to America with them, which is where Erika comes into play by offering vocal lessons.
There is a big language barrier but the characters make the most of their situation and adapt well.

Overall, quite an interesting read.
It did lose me a bit with the pet rats and the insta-love confession that came into realization at the end of the book.
I loved the addition of Christof not shying away from wearing makeup, and Erika admiring him for it.

Loved the concept for this, overall it was a decent read but there was something about the style I just couldn't connect to. Otherwise the romance was fun and there's a ton of humour here. I'm not surprised it's found people who love it though.

Sexy full of passion and desire.
A Broadway star meeting a rock star creating the perfect mix
The make-up and costumes of both were magnificent.
Musicals and rock music
Eery theater vibes

Erika Greene is a Broadway star who's reckless and craves the spotlight. All her life she has been the best of the best and doesn't care about anyone that's until an unfortunate accident leaves her scarred and miserable. Resigning from everything she goes to Paris, Nevada to run The Paris Opera House that she inherited. However, life wasn't easy on Erika she is miserable, lonely, and drowning in debts until a very sexy rock star comes into her life and flips everything upside down.

Christof is the manager and lead singer of The Nachtmusik a hair metal German band. They decided to record an American album in America and found the best place to do this in Erika's place.
Christof has always been responsible and strict with his life, and band mates but then things change when his 10 years girlfriend dumps him and leaves the band.
Then he and Erika meet and an undeniable spark ignites between them burning them and building a desire they can't ignore. Will Christof let his guard down and will Erika be able to start over?
Read and find out 😉.


I liked it and hope you will too.

I didn't know that I needed this romance in my life, but I really did! It is awesome! I throughly enjoyed reading it and the twist of the classic novel Phantom of the Opera was so great! Ahh, now if we can get this made into a movie with Sebastian Bach.

Midnight Duet by J. Comfort, published by Montlake, is a book that intrigued me just reading the blurb.
Erica, the up and coming , driven actor and her merry folks
This is a witty and fun read, sometimes confusing, sometimes a slow burn, but always entertaining. MD gives Phantom-of-the-Opera-vibes for sure, 4 beautiful stars.

Tropes;
1. Rockstar x (former) musical actress
2. Forced proximity
Bonus: Golden retriever MC

Midnight Duet was such an unexpected hit.
The amount of sexual tension and edging in this book had me taking deep breaths many a time because WOW it was sizzling hot! This book was super hilarious and sexy all at once.

I firmly believe Taylor Swift wrote anti-hero for our heroine Erika because she was the embodiment of that song. And I loved her for it. Very rarely do I connect with "quirky" characters in romance books because authors tend to portray them in a misogynistic light but Erika was a breath of fresh air. I loved her whole woe-is-me dramatic self and the way she is self-aware. But her character development arc? Even better.

Christof and the rest of Natchmusik members equally added fun elements to the story. It was an utter delight to witness their chaotic group dynamic.

But what makes this book even better is the fact that both our main characters grow together. I'm so fond of them and care for them deeply, which is a hard feat to achieve. The (dreaded) third act conflict in the book did not take away the fun from it, in fact, it just felt like I was watching a sitcom and laughing in the audience.

I think this book is perfect for the fans of Tessa Bailey! It took me by complete surprise when I found out this is Jen Comfort's second (2nd) book because I was absolutely sure this was written by a long-time author! After this, I will definitely be looking out for her future releases. I think I just might have found my new favourite rom-com author.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A harmonic mix of humor and steam that will pluck your heartstrings and make you laugh out loud. Readers will swoon every time Erika and Christof appear onstage together.

It’s reasonable to expect that a gender swapped contemporary Phantom of the Opera is going to be bonkers. The genius of Jen Comfort is that her bonkers romance is both almost excessively over the top and extremely well thought out. I loved Comfort’s first book, The Astronaut and the Star, though it is not without it’s faults. Midnight Duet is an even better book and I love it even more. The story is tighter without sacrificing the roller coaster about to fly off the rails feel. It’s sweetly sensitive while also being a bonkers gender flipped contemporary Phantom of the Opera retelling. Comfort dedicated the book to the former theater kids, and yes, that is who it’s for – the adults who can surf big waves of emotion and ideas while also remembering to put sunscreen on first. Jen Comfort is not afraid to go big.

Broadway diva Erika Greene is injured in an onstage accident and is left with scars on her face. She leaves New York City for Opera House (former brothel) she inherited from her grandmother in Paris, Nevada. Christof Daae is the lead singer and manager of a German hair metal band looking for a place to write the English language album that’s going to take Nacht Musik from local sensation to international stars. Erika lies about the habitability of the opera house and rents it to the band for 5 weeks. Christof lies about why the band’s guitarist (and his now ex girlfriend) isn’t with them to write music. Erika is convinced she’s a terrible person who must now hide in the shadows of obscurity (drama!), and she’s also ok with herself exactly as she is. Christof is so tightly wound he vibrates. He is also the most glamorous man you’ve ever seen.

Naturally the lust is instantaneous.

There are secret voice lessons, a sex dungeon, attempts to commune with the spirits, real estate shenanigans, pet rats, secret passages, the Eurovision contest, magical mushroom operas, and a love story for the ages. The framing may be Phantom of the Opera, but it is so much more.

Jen Comfort posted this scene (on Twitter) which is not in the book, so I feel free to share it:

Text (on a purple background): Tonight, she was going to fuck Christof so thoroughly that she embedded herself in his soul. She wasn’t a mere entry in his spank bank; she was going to be his whole fucking economy. He was going to jolt awake at midnight three decades from now, covered in his own cum, with her name on his lips. He could sleep with every curvy, dark-haired woman in Europe and beyond to try and satiate the Erika-shaped craving in his psyche and it still wouldn’t be enough. On his deathbed, he’d grasp at the air, desperate for one last taste of her breasts that would never come, and with a final rattle of breath, he’d leave this mortal plane holding nothing…
Nothing but regret that he’d ever, ever dared to leave her.

If you haven’t read The Astronaut and the Star, you don’t need to for this book, but you should. And then get very excited about Midnight Duet and read it when it comes out in January.

CW: alcohol use, description of recovery in hospital, but no graphic description of accident or injury, infidelity (not between the MCs), financial instability, fire.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Montlake and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

This author's voice is just not for me, I think the writing is very soaps-esque and OTT to the point I cannot get into the books she writes.

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this! I wasn’t sure I wanted a reimagined Phantom of the Opera, but I needed it.

Erika Greene is a Broadway star. Shellfish, vane, jealous, she’s the worst. An on stage accident leaves her scarred and devastated. Erika takes off to Paris, Nevada to run an old opera house she inherited.

Christof Daae is a German hair metal rock singer about to breakout with his next album. But the band is held together with duct tape and Christof’s will. He brings his band to the Opera house to write their album. He is head over heels for Erika right away, and she is hooooot for him. But they have a lot to work out together and on their own.

There is some plot for romance/musical reasons, but I didn’t mind. Erika has pet rats names Jean and Javert! They all make a trip to Vegas, there’s a bad guy, a mysterious fire, a ramshackle opera house, scarred heroine, rocker hero, quirky band mates, grumpy/serious combo. The sex is hot too.

Great second book from this author.