DNF. Despite mainly positive reviews, I found that this book was underwhelming. Thank you for your time.

Every Time You Hear That Song by Jenna Voris follows Darren Purchase, a seventeen year old aspiring journalist whose biggest idol Decklee Cassel has just passed away. When Decklee’s time capsule turns out to be empty, Darren and her coworker Kendall find themselves on a scavenger-hunt left to uncover all Decklee left behind.

A wonderful queer roadtrip story, handling things like tough feelings of growing up in a small town and a lot of country music. The story alternates perspective between Darren and Decklee, whose stories although separated by time are interconnected. Darren, Decklee, Carla, and the other characters were all complex, complicated and felt real. The whole book in fact felt like that. It didn’t shy away from the anxieties of illness and grief, neither of realities queer people have lived and do live, or from how difficult but imperative leaving can feel. I really, really liked this story, and think it’s one I’d like to revisit again in the future.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for granting me early access to this book! What a delightful read, I can so many people falling head over heels in love with these characters and I cannot wait to see it reach the world.

Obsessed! This book is the perfect road trip adventure coming of age story! It's Ready Player One but for Swifties and music lovers. It's Evelyn Hugo meets YA. It's full of heart, lyrical prose, laughter, and tears. I love that the musician is heavily flawed and we can still hold her in our hearts.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to the author, Net Galley, Penguin Group, and Viking Books for this ARC.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this book

Unfortunately this book was not for me, I read up to 65% and lost interest but I can see this story being loved by so many

“𝚆𝚎’𝚛𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚃𝚞𝚙𝚎𝚕𝚘. 𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚙𝚙𝚒?”
“𝚈𝚎𝚊𝚑, 𝙸’𝚖 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢, 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚝’𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚛.”
“𝙳𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚣𝚎. 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝙿𝚞𝚛𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚜𝚎.”

💛💛💛💛 / 5

»»————-✼————-««

Review:
This book had me sobbing and belly laughing within sentences of each other, I have never been so happily heartbroken in my life. But god I want to read it again for the first time, because it was utter perfection.

I have never read a duel timeline written so incredibly well, both aligned so so well, it was completely seamless. I love how both Darren and Decklee had such different voices, but were both written so so well. If you’re a big stickler for incredibly written books then this one will be right up your alley. I honestly cannot recommend it enough!

I’ve never been the biggest fan of Friends to lovers (always been more of an enemies to lovers girl tbqh) but Darren and Kendall had me in an utter chokehold and I honestly need more content. The way he just drops everything for her to go on this quest he couldn’t care less about just made my knees weak🥹 they had a beautiful coming of age, love story full of self and queer discovery, which they felt unable to attain in their small town.

Decklee is so hard headed and self driven it was incredible to read the cut throat side of the music business and watch as fame and stardom took over her and left her with everything but also nothing at all. I hate how she had to hide her sexuality and was forced to be someone she was not, it was heartbreaking. But I loved her enemies to lovers arc it was truly utterly perfect; I just wished it ended differently!

I don’t think anything I write will ever do this book justice, so I just NEED you to read it so I can scream shout with someone about it!

In the beginning of Every Time You Hear that Song, superstar country singer Decklee Cassel dies, leaving behind a time capsule supposedly filled with memorabilia. However, when it is opened, there is nothing in it. Shortly, after the shocking revelation, Decklee's prerecorded message introduces a scavenger hunt to find the contents. Teen reporter Darren Purchase, who is from Decklee's hometown of Mayberry, Arkansas, goes on a road trip with her friend and coworker Kendall Wilkinson to solve the mystery. The story chronicles Decklee's rise to fame in the 60s and her partnership with lyricist Mickenlee Hooper and their secret lesbian romance. Mickenlee mysteriously disappears after a falling out with Decklee over being true to themselves. Decklee, who has struggled to climb the ladder to stardom is not willing to reveal their relationship in a musical world that does not accept homosexual relationships. Darren, who herself is a bisexual, uncovers the scavenger hunt clues with uncanny prescience, until the final shocking reveal. Told in alternating perspectives, the novel uncovers the ugly truth about the sacrifices made in the climb to stardom.

"Every Time You Hear That Song" by Jenna Voris is a heartfelt and poignant exploration of love and loss, anchored by its lyrical prose and evocative storytelling. Its emotional depth and relatable themes create a deeply resonant and moving read.

This book surprised me in so many ways. I never expected any of this. I loved loved loved the story. I love how it's told in two time periods. I love the characters and the changes they go through. I love the adventure in it, and i love the home in it as well. I love every single part about this and i think many more people should read this right now.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

This book follows seventeen-year-old Darren Purchase, a young woman who has dreams of getting out of her small town to become a world-famous journalist. She and her mother have an obsession with a musician from their town, Decklee Cassel. When Decklee passes away, her televised funeral brings forward a time capsule. When they find the time capsule empty, it brings clues and a scavenger hunt to give the winner a cash prize of three million dollars. Darren brings her coworker and friend, Kendall as he's the only person she knows with a car. They dive into the history of Decklee and her road to stardom which included her writer, Mickenlee Hooper. Driving from state to state, they find themselves in a race with a known influencer who has the help of his fans online to win this cash prize. This is a past-POV to current-POV between Decklee and Darren, and we get to see the similarities between their characters.

When I tell you, I couldn't put this book down - I mean it. The character development, the dialogue, the different tropes and genres mixed into one novel were just flat out impeccable. I am so excited for this one to get released so I can see this book in more hands!!!

I want to start with clarifying a thing, this book is not just for people who like country music. I personally am not really cultivated in music, if I’m being honest, but still enjoyed “every time you hear that song” unexpectedly much. It was funny, easy to read, fresh, witty, interesting, what you seek in a historical fiction book about singers and writers.

Decklee Cassel is world famous, a household name, the wildcard, the mystery everyone wants to solve, willing to burn until she burns out.

However, even while she is incredible at singing and writing music, she needs someone to help her with her lyrics to be able to sing her own songs. It’s here Mickenlee Hooper comes into the picture.

They’re best friends, coworkers, two women trying to rise above and bathe in fame in the late 1900’s. Everyone suspected something more, but nobody could prove it. Especially after the fall out that had.

Years later, after Decklee’s death, a seventeen year old girl, Darren Purchase is seeking for Decklee’s time capsule and the three million dollars that she plans on using to pay her mother’s medical bills and a way out of the small town she’s living in that she doesn’t want to be in.

With Kendall who never wants to leave the town, by her side she starts unraveling decades old secrets and stories that were never meant to be revealed, and in the end has a damn good story.

I loved the writing style of this book, with its unique way of telling the story. The narrative jumps between Decklee’s and Darren’s POVs and told through first person, you can really see their way of thinking.

The story was captivating, with queer representation and witty, deep characters, and had a bitter, open ending. (Jenna, please write an epilogue with an HEA, pretty please.)

With its ambitious characters that’s ready to sacrifice everything for a dream, historical fiction-y tale, and musical style, I would recommend this book to fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid (specifically those of Daisy jones and the six and the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo), and The secret history by Donna Tarrt.

I received an arc from NetGalley and am voluntarily writing this review.

I don't know what I expected, but this book REALLY took me by surprise in the best way. I'm a southern girl myself (Kentucky!) so seeing queer romance intertwined with country music made me fall in love. The dual POV is done masterfully and the contrast and the harmony of Decklee and Darren's stories is delicious. This is a favorite.

I really enjoyed this. It gave me similar vibes to the movie Crossroads. It also gave me a what if Dolly wasn't Dolly kind of vibes. Decklee Cassel has a persona that is bigger than life, and it shows how if you use your power for yourself, it can leave you in a place you're going to regret. I found Darren and Kendall to be interesting characters as they began their journey to find the Decklee Cassel time capsule.

I found the journey so satisfying because Darren doesn't know herself hardly at all. She just knows what she thinks she wants. But I think as the journey goes on it's interesting to see how her views start to slowly change for the better. I think the dual timeline of learning the history of Decklee from the start as a runaway to the end of the novel was an excellent addition to this story because it allowed you to form your own opinion about Decklee and not what Darren thinks of her.

I also really loved that Decklee loved a woman, <spoiler>but at the same time I hated watching her tank every relationship she had because she was too afraid to be true to herself because in the long run, she never really did love herself enough. She thought success was the only way to measure your worth which is so untrue. </spoiler>

I sobbed at the end of this. Not because it's sad, but because I was so hurt for all of the characters at the end. I found that I was very invested in their journey, where they were going how they got there. I cried as a small-town girl who left and came back, because even though it has its moments it for sure has its high points too. 4.5/5 stars rounded up to 5

This was stunning. Truly a gorgeous YA novel that I will be recommending for a long time to come. I had some problems with the physical formatting of the arc but other brilliant

This was such a good story, from the road trip and adventure elements, to the romance elements, to the mystery element. Voris does a phenomenal job of drawing in the reader and making you want to find out what happens next. I almost felt like I was on this adventure with Decklee Cassel, desperate to hear more about her life and learn more about the people she associated herself with.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Every Time You Hear That Song by Jenna Voris, two teens drive across the South in search of clues leading them to the time capsule (and rumored final album) of a recently deceased country music legend.

Darren can’t wait to get out of her hometown just like her hero—country music legend Decklee Cassel—did decades ago. Like Decklee, Darren has dreams that feel too big for the tiny Arkansas town, but with her mother still paying off medical bills, she isn’t sure how she’ll fund that future.

When Decklee passes away fans expect to find solace in her legendary time capsule, except when it’s finally opened there’s nothing inside. A series of clues will lead one lucky fan to the real capsule, and a cash prize big enough to pay for Darren’s dreams of escape.

Told from both Darren and Decklee’s perspectives across alternating timelines, Every Time You Hear That Song celebrates of the connective power of music while simultaneously asking readers what price they’d be willing to pay to make their own dreams a reality.

Now for some chaotic thoughts:

- I have my own small Southern hometown (just one state over) that I couldn’t wait to leave behind, even though it meant leaving a part of my heart with the people who stayed, so of course this book made me cry
- I wish I could give this book to my college freshman self, who once saw a pretty girl wearing cowboy boots and had to go lay down on the floor because she was overwhelmed with queer feelings + homesickness
- This book is like the cowboy-boot-wearing teenage cousin of a Taylor Jenkins Reid novel
- On a related note I need it to be adapted so I can become as obsessed with the soundtrack as I did the Daisy Jones and the Six soundtrack

Told from a dual POV, we follow singer Decklee Cassel on her tumultuous journey to fame, grappling with her Queer identity, and Darren Purchase, who, years later, embarks on a scavenger hunt to uncover Decklee's lost songs and lover after her passing. As Darren embarks on this quest, she undergoes a profound self-discovery about her sexuality and her true feelings for Mayberry.

This book beautifully intertwines the lives of two women across decades, united by their love for country music and the enigmatic ties of their careers. Voris skillfully blends these narratives, offering a dual perspective that sheds light on the complexities of identity, ambition, and authenticity.

However, I felt the ending was somewhat rushed. I wished for more time to immerse in the characters' emotions post-twist. The scavenger hunt, although crucial to the plot, felt underwhelming at times. While it propelled Darren and Kendall's journey, it lacked the fulfillment I anticipated. Perhaps my expectations were too high, or maybe it was meant to unfold this way.

Although this book wasn't what I'd initially pick to read, I still rather enjoyed it. The exploration of identity and the emotional depth of the characters made it a captivating read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m not a huge country fan, or a country fan in general let’s be real, but I'm a sucker for sapphic books. I enjoyed my time with this one:)

DNF.

I had high hopes as a fan of country music and young adult love stories but sadly this was not a hit for me. I can't really figure out how to put into words what I didn't enjoy about this book but sadly it was a DNF for me. I just couldn't get into it and eventually gave up. Not something that happens often, but it happens.