Member Reviews

What You Do to Me follows journalist Cecilia James and her journey to uncover the meaning and mystery behind one of the world’s most popular love songs. Alternating between 1996 when Cecilia is beginning her career and digging into the life of rockstar Eddie Vee to to the years before when Eddie and his muse Sara meet one summer in Miami, you will be pulled into this musical love story about forbidden love, regret, forgiveness and second chances.

I loved all the musical elements to the story from Cecilia’s job at The Rolling Stones, to all the interviews, the songs that were used for chapter titles, and of course, all the references to Hey There Delilah. The Jewish representation was absolutely beautiful and relatable. I will say, I did not love Cecilia’s home life situation for a lot of the story because of her stubborness surrounding her father and his new family. However, it did allow for great character growth, and I did enjoy seeing Cecilia’s perspective surrounding her family shift by the end.

Read if you like:
-Star crossed lovers
-Jewish rep
-Music
-Journalist interviews
-Hey There Delilah (bc it’ll be on repeat in your head)
-Taylor Jenkins Ried books

Thank you Get Red PR for the ARC! Pub 10/17

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3.5 stars rounded up. While I enjoyed this book, I didn’t love it in the way I thought I would. The concept of it was so intriguing. As an OG Swiftie, songwriting is something I deeply appreciate, and the idea of tracking down the inspiration to a massive hit song is fascinating. The parts of the book outside of that storyline brought it down a bit for me though.

Taking the Plain White T’s classic “Hey There Delilah” and creating an entire fictional world and story around it was brilliant. Also cool that Tom Higgenson from the band wrote the foreword endorsing the whole thing. Sara and Eddie’s story and Cecilia’s work in tracking them both down while it was being told was easily the best part of this book. Their story was so nuanced, tragic, beautiful, heartbreaking, and heartwarming all at once. Cecilia’s determination in telling the story, even as she knew she was getting too emotionally close it, was also wonderful.

Everything else going on in Cecilia’s life was where I struggled. I did for her as everything she thought she knew about her life unraveled. However, I had a hard time feeling an amount of sympathy for her that really stuck because of the way she took Pete for granted and how she treated her father and stepmother. I didn’t love all aspects of the conclusion when it came to her story, but I did liked that she matured and worked through her demons to happiness for the time it was given.

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Unfortunately the format of the e-version is disjointed and taking away from the book itself. I don't want to rate the book negatively based upon a formatting issue, so I will leave a 5 star rating now and hold off on reviewing until I am able to access a finished copy.

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“Cecelia planned to be a star. Not like her idol Stevie Nicks, but she’d find a way to inhabit Stevie’s world. And then she’d write about it.”

Cecelia James has always lived her life in music & lyrics. When she was young, this was the foundation of her relationship with her Dad. As an adult, this love leads her to a coveted job at Rolling Stone magazine and also echoes throughout her sometimes strained relationship with her boyfriend, Pete.

Cecelia so desperately wants to be a columnist, and has the chance at just that when she accidentally stumbles upon a woman who may be the mysterious muse behind the popular song “What You Do to Me” by The High Tides. This moment sets off a chain reaction of events in her own relationship, the relationship between her and her Father, and also sets the stage for the love story between Eddie Vee (the Rock Star) and Sarita (his Muse).

What You Do to Me is several love stories interwoven within each other - The fragile love between a Father & Daughter, the love between a Guy & Girl, the love between a budding Rock Star & his Muse, and a love for the beauty of music and the way it can evoke so many feelings.

Having grown up with my own Father being a drummer and being so into music, I completely identify with being enchanted by lyrics and not just hearing music, but feeling it in my soul. This book spoke to me in so many ways. It’s beautiful, magical, brilliant, and so many other things. It might just be one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read. I truly adored it!

So many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for gifting me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

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What You Do To Me is the first book that I read by the author, Rochelle B. Weinstein. This book wasn’t my normal go-to genre so I was a little hesitant to read it at first. But when I read the blurb, I was so intrigued that I wanted to read this book and see how the song, Hey There Delilah, by the Plain White T’s inspired this book. Tom Higgensen from the band wrote the foreword in this book and what he says is true, that if you liked the song then you will like this book. I wasn’t familiar with the details on the background of the song and why it was written, but I vaguely remembered that it was for a girl who was in a relationship so reading this book and learning more about the song and its muse was eye opening. Music is a huge part of my life and I loved how this book was filled with music, how it move and impacts lives.

This book is a standalone, contemporary romance about star-crossed lovers who were impacted by music and one song in particular, What You Do To Me, by the band High Tide. It loosely follows the lives of Sara Friedman and Eddie Santiago who are our star crossed lovers, but also features the complicated romance between Cecilia James and Pete Shepard. The book goes back and forth in time between the 1970’s and the 1990’s and some in the present times, 2023. It can get confusing with how quickly the chapters go back and forth, but it isn’t too bad. Having grown up in the 90’s, I don’t remember all of the references in this book during that time since I was so little, but I do remember the brief trip down memory lane and the music.

Music has always been a part of Cecilia James’s life and it’s because of her love for music that landed her as a journalist at one of the most iconic magazines in the country, Rolling Stone. While on her first solo assignment, she believes she has found the muse to one of the country’s biggest hits. And she does what every journalist would do and that is to find out more about the person who inspired a song that impacted not only her life, but countless others. But what she discovers is more than she expected to find and while she is trying to find a way to bring these two soulmates back together, she tries to figure out how to fix her own relationship. There is a lot more to this book than just this short recap, but I don’t want to give any of the details away and spoil this book for you.

Sara and Eddie’s love story is a heartwarming and heartbreaking one that ends in a happily ever after. But due to circumstances, they couldn’t be together until much later in life when a certain journalist enters their lives and reminds them of the love they once had for one another. That a love like theirs doesn’t fade away with time and distance and that life is short to not be with the one that you love and to live your life truly happy. Love wins in this book and it’s not always that I want that, but with everything that these two had gone through, they both deserve their happily ever after.

Cecilia and Pete’s love story is a complicated one and also ends in a happily ever after. But due to circumstances and Cecilia’s past, they break up and during the time that Cecilia was investigating the muse and finding out the happenings of Eddie Vee, she figures out why she is the way she is and what events in her childhood influenced that. Realizing that her view of her childhood is not actually what was really going on made her open her eyes to what she had forgotten over the years. Hoping that she isn’t too late to let Pete know what he means to her, she does the unthinkable and lays her heart on the line for him. Will he forgive her and take her back or will it be a little too late?

While this book was a little predictable, I enjoyed it. I lost my dad years ago and reading the conversations between Cecilia and her father brought tears to my eyes because I can see my dad doing to the similar things to the ones that I read in the book. It made me miss him and remember all the times he would introduce me to new music while singing and dancing with me in our living room. Music was a way we bonded and I love how I was reminded of that with this book.

Two of my favorite lines in the book are spoken by two characters in the book.
“Faith is seeing the light through the darkness.”

“No matter where life takes you girls, and I know it will be great places, don’t be scared. Look up. And I’ll be the star in every sky.”

As this was the first book I have read by the author, I am intrigued to read more books by her. I would recommend this book to any music lover especially those who loved the song, Hey There Delilah. I received an unedited copy of this book from Netgalley and this book doesn’t officially release until October 2023 and I am excited to see if there are any changes to the book and to see it out on shelves. Thank you for allowing me reading this book and I am voluntarily leaving my thoughts on it in this review.

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loved this romance and finding love again. I loved that the two girls were dealing with family issues and trying to find their own way in life to college to writing the biggest story . loved the way that the time periods interacted. Really good romance and loved the different chapters with the songs

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such a fun read! I really enjoyed the story line and the character development. I was kept engaged and wanting to know more about the characters and their journey. definitely will be recommending.

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Rochelle B. Weinstein's "What You Do To Me" is an exquisitely woven novel that marries the power of music with the depth of love. The story follows journalist Cecilia James as she delves into the mystery of the muse behind a timeless rock song. As Cecilia works to uncover the truth, she discovers intertwined narratives of love, heartache, and separation, revolving around rock star Eddie Vee and his inspiration, Sara Friedman. Set against the backdrop of the '90s, the narrative takes readers on a nostalgic journey, resonating with emotions and vibrant melodies.

With impeccable storytelling, Weinstein crafts not just one, but two enchanting love stories, seamlessly blending romance, mystery, and suspense. The characters' poignant journeys unfold through the tapestry of music, resulting in a book that's impossible to put down. "What You Do To Me" resonates deeply with anyone who's ever felt the pull of a heartstring-tugging melody or been captivated by the allure of an unattainable star. Weinstein's novel is a tribute to the healing power of love, music, and the undying hope for second chances.

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What You Do To Me is the story of a love song and of the triumph of the heart over the greatest of odds. Even for those who have written off love forever

It’s a cute concept but I feel the book was just overly long. I found myself speed reading the end to get it finished!

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This book is beautiful and is going to blow up and be the next bit thing! There is absolutely no doubt about it in my mind.

First time trying Rochelle B. Weinstein and will definitely be purchasing her next book.

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I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Journalist Cecilia James is employed by the Rolling Stone magazine and she is trying to make a name for herself in the industry. Music is her love language and this influences her to learn the stories behind the songs. The book title "what you do to me" is the name of her love song with her boyfriend. Cecilia is determined to find the real muse behind the song. Sara (the muse) and Eddie (the song writer) have since distance themselves from this song due to their history and a situation involving his band. The author writes this book from Cecilia's perspective as a journalist and Sara's perspective as the muse. I enjoyed the dual perspective's because you see them navigate the difficulties in their romantic relationships and family situations.

Each chapter title involves a song with a name in it. I thought that was a cool way to add music further into the book. I hope a playlist listing each of the songs will be added to the printed copy.

The author was inspired by the Plain White T's song "hey there Delilah". I would recommend checking out the forward as it is written by the lead singer.

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Journalist Cecilia James is a sucker for a love song. So when she stumbles across a clue to the identity of the muse for one of rock’s greatest, she devotes herself to uncovering the truth, even as her own relationship is falling apart.

I put off starting this book for so long and for absolutely no reason at all.
But when I finally did start it & read the Forward, I was absolutely delighted to learn where the inspiration came from and I couldn’t wait to tuck in!

And I’ll be damned if I’m not slightly wrecked at the moment.

I so appreciated the musical vein threaded throughout this novel and I absolutely loved how the chapters are titled after some legitimate legendary songs of the 70’s, 80’s & 90’s…

It’s a love story inside of a love story inside of a love story. There’s so much of pain, countless mistakes and heavy regret. But there’s also overwhelming love, redemption, happiness and life!

I’m sorry to say this is my first read by Weinstein, but I can’t wait to get my hands on her previous novels!

I fell in love, had my heart broken and listened to a lot of good tunes along the way, all in a day!

Just read it.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Pub date: 10.17.23.

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Simply put, this is a fanfiction about the song Hey There Delilah, and I loved it. You follow Cecelia, a writer for Rolling Stone magazine, and she is trying to uncover who the song “What You Do To Me” was written about. You go back and forth between her storyline with her dad and boyfriend in the 90s and between Eddie Santiago and the mysterious Sarita in the 70s.

I started this book with low expectations and wasn’t completely sold until around the 35% mark. My favorite parts were the flashbacks to the teenage years of Eddie and Sara, where you learn how they meet and spend their summers. It was a cute love story while not being a stereotypical romance. It was great and kept me invested until the end.

Some parts of this book felt a little unbelievable, like her relationship with her boss, and some parts at the end. It was easy to look over those though.

This book was a fun love story that pays homage to music, with each chapter named after a song. A lovely combination of a mystery and a romance, this is perfect to read by the pool. I would recommend this to people who want something light and enjoy reading about the behind-the-scenes of music and songwriting.

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This was such a fun read! I can't wait for more by this author. I would absolutely recommend! If you are looking for a book to get you back into reading. This is it!

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Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a review. enjoyable story of how music brings love stories together.

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I loved everything about this book. I finished it a couple of weeks ago, but it’s stuck in my head.
It’s rare that a book comes along that gives me such an emotional attachment, but this book more than managed to do it.
I might start sobbing all over again when I think about the ending.
It’s one of my favourites this year and one I’d definitely recommend.

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Have you ever wondered what the story is behind your favorite songs on the radio? Well, so does the female main female character, Cecilia, who is struggling in a relationship with Pete due to unresolved family issues. It’s through Cecelia’s research for a Rolling Stone article that we’re introduced to Sara and Eddie, the love story that inspired the hit song “What You Do To Me” (based on “Hey There Delilah” by the Plain White T’s).

So basically, in What You Do To Me, you get a love story wrapped in another love story. Sara and Eddie’s love story is definitely more compelling than Cecilia and Pete’s, but you simply can’t have one without the other. Tropes/themes included are first love, star-crossed lovers, and forbidden romance, and second chance romance with missed opportunities, family drama, and grief sprinkled in.

This book was mesmerizing, haunting, and tugged on my heart strings the entire time. It was a beautifully written homage to music and the stories behind the music. I honestly can’t say enough good things about this book, and I honestly think everyone should give it a read!

I received an advanced reader copy of this book for free, through NetGalley, but I am voluntarily leaving this review.

#WhatYouDoToMe #NetGalley

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I ADORED this book!!! Rochelle’s writing style always flows beautifully and this one definitely did not disappoint.

There are two stories intricately woven together. Cecelia is in the present, and has been dating Pete for several years. When they break up, it throws Cecelia back into the family drama of her dad and his family.

In the past, there is Sara and Eddie. But a chance encounter between Sara and Cecelia throws Sara and Eddie into the current day as well.

I absolutely loved the paths all of these characters took, and especially the growth between Cececlia, her dad and his family.

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Every chapter is a different song title ! And that, for me is always a great start.

Eddie and Sara’s story had me captivated. I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out what had happened

I have to admit Cecilia took me a bit longer to warm up too.

Such a story of the past and the present, families and traditions… families and secrets, forgiveness, and finally seeing things clearly.

Eddie Vee was one of the all-time greats in rock ‘n’ roll. His number one hit has been speculated about for years. Who did he write it for?

No one has seen or heard from him in years and one day Cecilia stumbles upon what could be the original lyrics for the song and she stumbles right into their Love story.

I was immediately drawn into this book, the time periods, the characters and most of all the music!

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“What You Do To Me” is a beautifully written love story. I really enjoyed this one the characters and the backstory! Great read!

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