Thank you to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-bi rep
-second chance
-forced proximity
-rockstar romance
-sneaking around

I had so much fun with this one. Sucked in both to the story of the band and the romance. This was messy in the best way. My fingers are crossed we're going to find out more about the other band mates in future books.

I haven’t seen anyone talking about this book which is a shame because it’s so good! It has great mental health and bisexual representation. Thanks so much to Berkley Publishing Influencer Hub for Underrepresented Voices for the copy because this is my first 5⭐️ read of the year

I’m not typically a second chance romance fan but I love these two because they really grew up and admitted their faults and how their lack of communication led to their downfall years ago. Now many years later, with years of therapy under their belt, they are having open and honest communication…. most of the time. It’s super refreshing.

But it’s also a second chance friendship book and getting the band back together. There were tough conversations and acknowledgement that a relationship takes two people. The friendships with nuanced and relatable.

I loved the band and music element of the story. As someone who grew up going to shows anywhere from a dingy basement venue to warped tour to concert halls and more, my love of concerts made me love this even more.

(3.5 stars) Many thanks to @netgalley @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the #gifted advanced digital and audiobook copies! This nostalgic and raw second-chance romance will hit you right in the feels. 🎤💔 #berkleypartner #berkley #prhaudioinfluencer

The Glitter Bats were the ultimate pop-punk phenomenon—until they imploded six years ago, leaving their fans begging for a reunion and the bandmates out of each other’s lives. Valerie Quinn, their former lead singer, has since pivoted to a career in acting, but with her musical TV show teetering on the edge of cancellation, the press has unfairly pinned the blame on her. Desperate to change the narrative, Valerie hatches a bold plan: a one-night-only reunion of The Glitter Bats.

This means facing Caleb, the heartthrob bass player and her childhood best friend, who once held her heart but walked away from fame—and from her—to become a school teacher. As the bandmates spend the summer preparing for their big comeback, they confront the messy, unresolved issues that tore them apart while rediscovering the bond that brought them together. For Valerie and Caleb, the stakes are even higher as they try to rekindle their love, forcing them to confront the reasons their relationship faltered the first time around.

This novel is an emotional exploration of teenage fame, the exploitation by managers and labels, and the price of growing up too fast. The dynamics of the band’s found family felt messy and authentic as they unpacked their pasts and worked toward an uncertain future—sometimes triumphantly, sometimes disastrously. There were moments I wanted to scream at these characters for their selfish choices, but that, too, felt true to the spirit of rock and roll. I also enjoyed the creative inclusion of news articles chronicling the band’s rise and reunion; it offered a good way to revisit the past without being confined to one character’s perspective. I also thought Caleb's anxiety and how Valerie understood and supported him was a great storyline.

🎧 On the Audiobook: Narrated by Mx. Nicky Endres, Helen Laser, and Colton Woods, the audiobook truly elevated the story. The narrators captured the tension and raw emotion of the characters perfectly, and the inclusion of news articles felt distinct and immersive, adding another layer of realism to the experience.

For One Night Only combines several things I love - second chance, celebrity romance and music. This was such a fun romance centered around a band getting back together. My favorite thing in a second chance novel are when you get a good grasp on the initial relationship. I could have used a little more of that to really want to root for the couple. There were short glimpses where the author tells you about their past but I would have liked to be more inserted in the past and the present to feel like the story was whole. However, it was a fun, spicy romance!

4.5 Stars

I am not the biggest second chance romance, friends to lovers fan (either together or separate) but I can say with authority that Jessica James may be changing my mind on that. Could be that I love me a good hollywood romance, but this book spoke to my soul. I loved it so much. There were some frustrating moments, both on the part of Valerie's and on the part of the Hollywood press, but I loved the tension and relationship between Val and Caleb and I desperately wish the Glitter Bats were real.

In an effort to rehabilitate her reputation, Valerie will reunite with the Glitter Bats for one night only. It had been six years since Caleb walked out on the Bats. The full truth regarding the breakup was never revealed, but fingers crossed that history doesn't repeat itself during this reunion show.

I have a special place in my heart for second chance romances, but I love them even more when the characters can get a second chance at something else. In this case, Valerie was hoping to advance her career. The media was very unfair to Valerie, but she was determined to change their view of her in a bid to get her TV show renewed. She didn't expect to feel so much magic when she was back with the band, and she especially did not anticipate the sparks that still flew between her and Caleb.

This second chance romance really called to me. Caleb and Valerie shared so many firsts. Though they grew during their time apart, they still loved each other, and THIS was why I needed them to be together. Obviously, I was rooting for them the entire time even when they were too blind to see the writing on the wall. All I have to say is BE PATIENT!

Clearly, I adored the romance, but I also liked seeing Valerie rebuild some of her most important friendships. The Glitter Bats were her friends first, then her bandmates. They gave her the "home" and support she could never get from her own mother. Therefore, Valerie lost her "family" when the band broke up. She struggled in the spotlight and was often betrayed negatively, but I could feel her happiness when she was back with the Bats. It was not all smooth sailing as there were still some residual bad feeling involving the breakup and the distance Valerie kept for so many years, but like most families, they made up and made beautiful music together.

Expect some drama, probably more than the story needed, but be sure to enjoy the great mixed media bits. I loved all the social and blog posts as well as song lyrics that were mixed in with the story. I find that gave the tale more dimension, and these bits were also a great way to color the story.

Overall: I was thrilled to accompany the Glitter Bats on their reunion journey which was filled with music, friendship, drama, and a fabulous second chance romance.

🖤Second chance romance
🖤Found family
🖤Getting the band back together

I enjoy found family and getting the gang back together, so I figured this would be right up my alley! I loved the music and the cast of characters (aside from the FMC…). I also love a steamy romance!!

I struggled with the FMC’s vanity and constantly caring about her “image”. I think we were supposed to truly believe that she cared about saving her show and not about bolstering her own image, but I really don’t think that came through the way it was supposed to.

Jessica James has a hit with this one! This was such an incredible debut and it really hit all the marks for me for what I like in a book: layered, complex female main character; strong friendships; an understandable conflict; and a couple you can't help but root for. I think if Daisy Jones & the Six wasn't your cup of tea (or even if it was!). this would be a great book for you. I really enjoyed how this really felt like an ensemble book even though we didn't get all of the POVs. I still felt like I completely understood all of them even looking at them through the eyes of our FMC & MMC. I do think that the romance in this book was more of a subplot and this book really focuses on the band repairing their relationships across the board, rather than just focusing on the main couple. This was a big plus for me in this book and I abolutely loved it, but if you are expecting a full on romance, I think it is important to know going it and I still think you will have a good time! In fact, I actually think a different romance should have been at the center of this book, or at least touched on more, and if you read this I think you'll know what I'm talking about! It wasn't touched on in the epilogue at all, which gives me hope that we may be getting more of that even if it just comes in the form of bonus content.

All in all, this was an absolute hit of a debut and I cannot wait to read more from Jessica!

Romance books set in the music industry are usually pretty hit or miss for me, so I’m happy to say that I enjoyed this one!

What I liked most was how messy ALL the characters were. Yes, Valerie had some of the biggest mistakes at times, but everyone in the band was imperfect. Some of my favorite parts of the book were when they were all in conflict, which forced them all to unpack their differences and accountability for their part in the friction.

Valerie as a main character was interesting to read. Through the story, it’s clear how much being young stars impacted the whole band, but especially Valerie. She had a journey to go on to let go of aspects of the industry, and I liked watching her grow and change.

I enjoyed the romance between Valerie and Caleb, and was rooting for them to get back together again, because it’s clear from their first reunion that there are still feelings present. However, I found myself wishing I could have gotten flashbacks to the pair when they were first a couple. Seeing the early relationship, as opposed to being told about it, would have helped me feel more connected to them as a couple.

But still, this was a compelling second chance romance. I was hooked on the story the entire time, and seriously hope we can see the glitter bats again in future books.

Thank you so much to @berkleyromance @berkleypub @acebookspub @netgalley and @literarilyjess for a copy of this book.

Valerie Quinn is musician/actress, but she’s been getting some bad press lately. She’s grown up in the spotlight as lead singer of the Glitter Bats and after the band broke up suddenly, they all went their separate ways. Valerie really needs some good press and can think of no better way than to get the band back together. It won’t be easy after her breakup with best friend and band mate Caleb Sloane. She knows the only way the rest of the band will agree to a reunion is to get Caleb onboard. He agrees to come back for one night only but when old feelings come back, maybe one night won’t be enough.

I loved this book! I thought it was fun and spicy. It’s the perfect second chance romance. I love the diversity of the characters in the book! Caleb is a dream! Val and Caleb have such great chemistry, you find yourself hoping for them to figure it out! For One Night Only released yesterday and I definitely recommend it!

3.5⭐️

When Valerie Quinn's reputation in Hollywood is at risk, she comes up with the brilliant idea to get her old band, Glitter Bats, back together. The band was her start to stardom and the fans have been begging for a reunion for years. The only problem is that the band broke up because Valerie turned down Caleb, her co-singer, when he proposed. Caleb agrees to the reunion and the fans immediately start speculating that Valerie and Caleb have rekindled their relationship. And may them playing into the speculation eventually makes it true. But will their relationship survive the summer?

This was okay. I really liked the alternative/rock star story line and I can think of several bands from my teen years I'd love to see get back together. I also love the thought of a second chance romance with 'the one that got away.' I loved Valerie and Caleb's relationship and how it inadvertently fueled the band. I also liked how they both tried to protect each other from their vulnerabilities even if it backfired. I liked that Caleb had put in the work to handle his anxiety after leaving the band and how aware he was of his limits.

I hated how selfish Valerie was. The only reason this reunion happened was because Valerie's career was at risk. She didn't care about any of the rest of band and how easily she screwed them over again and again. Her actions at the show were extremely selfish, especially after being time and time again that the rest of the band didn't agree or that their record label would use their actions to screw them over. The fact that Valerie's mom was also doing all kinds of illegal shit as their 'manager' and nothing was really done about it left me kind of disappointed with the ending of this as well.

Oh, and the fact that the two main characters had first and last names that sounded like first names (Valerie Quinn and Caleb Sloane) and that those names were used interchangeably was extremely hard to follow.

Thanks Netgalley and Berkley for providing this ARC to me!

Short synopsis: After some bad publicity, Valarie convinces her old band to get together for a reunion show.

My thoughts: I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, but I adored the Bright fun cover. I love a celebrity romance, throw music in the mix and I’m sure to enjoy it.

This was such a fun second chance Story, a second chance at romance, second chance at stardom and fame, friendship, among other things. It took a minute for me to feel the connection between Valerie and Caleb, but I think it’s because I felt like Valerie had anterior motives the majority of the book.

I adored Caleb, the way he wanted to take care of his sisters, and get away from fame. He was teacher! What more can I say about him.

I liked the other members of the band, we got a sneak peek into their personalities which was fun. For the majority of the book i kept wondering where the name “The Glitter Bats” could have possibly come from, I laughed out loud when the reason behind the name was unveiled. I love a good Twilight reference. I could totally see myself being a fan of this band, and listening to their music!

All in all a fun debut! Can’t wait to see what else this author comes out with!

Read if you love:
- Celebrity/Rock and Roll Music
- Second chances
- Comeback story
- Dual POV
- LGBTQ+ (Bi Rep)
- Therapy positivity

As a big music fan, I’m always drawn to books that feature musicians as main characters, so For One Night Only, a second chance romance featuring estranged former bandmates really called to me.

These days Valerie Quinn is an actress with a hot mess of a reputation, whose musical TV show is on the brink of cancellation. Back in her heyday though, Valerie was the lead vocalist in the beloved pop punk band, the Glitter Bats. Desperate for some good press , Valerie arranges for the Glitter Bats to reunite for a concert, one night only, in hopes that it will help to both rehab her image and save her TV show.

There’s just one catch - the band broke up years ago and has been estranged ever since, particularly Valerie and co-founder Caleb Sloane. Valerie not only broke Caleb’s heart, but the band’s breakup left him broke, anxious, and resentful of the entire music industry.

This was an addicting read for so many reasons, particularly if you like dramatic, emotional scenes. The bandmates haven’t seen each other for six years, so once they finally come face to face, they have a lot of hurt and residual anger to work through before they’re even willing to move forward. Then, of course, Valerie & Caleb have the added emotion of their shared romantic history. I flew through the pages as this group had all of the hard talks they needed to have, & it was clear how much they all cared for one another.

The band’s found family vibes were my favorite part of the book, but I also enjoyed the second chance romance between Valerie & Caleb, although I’ll admit her journey to personal growth was just such a roller coaster ride that it took me a while to decide they would be good together.

"One Night Only" is a charming second-chance romance featuring ex-bandmates. I appreciated the author's thoughtful portrayal of celebrity life and mental health, as it's easy to forget that these individuals are people too. The chemistry between Caleb and Valerie was strong, and I liked them for the most part. However, Valerie was a bit difficult to like at times; she came across as selfish and ungrateful. I mean, her ex-band members were trying to help her after all.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. If you’re a fan of second-chance romances and stories about rockers, then this book is definitely for you.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to @berkleyromance for the free review copy. Opinions are my own.


Quote
“Every time she smiles it hits me, how lucky I am to be in her orbit. But it’s never just been an orbit. We collide, again and again, like two stars in an explosion of light and color.”

Introduction
A heartfelt debut, For One Night Only centers on former bandmates and ex-lovers Valerie Quinn and Caleb Sloane as they reunite to save Valerie’s career and relaunch their band, the Glitter Bats, for a single spectacular reunion concert.

Characters
Valerie and Caleb are richly drawn protagonists, with layers of unresolved tension and chemistry that leap off the page. Valerie’s determination to redeem herself in the public eye and Caleb’s cautious vulnerability make them compelling leads. They feel real in ways that left me feeling each was somewhat unlikable.

Themes
The novel deftly explores second chances, the complexities of fame, and the intersection of personal and professional relationships. It also delves into themes of forgiveness, growth, and rediscovering one’s passion.

Plot
The fake dating trope is central to the story, but it’s elevated by the emotional stakes tied to the Glitter Bats’ comeback. The pacing balances nostalgic reflections on the band’s heyday with the tension of unresolved conflicts.

Setting
The backdrop of the music industry feels authentic and immersive, with concert rehearsals and media scrutiny adding to the drama. The pop-punk atmosphere of the band was extremely nostalgic for me.

Conclusion
This is an excellent debut that is sure to please fans of second-chance romances and stories set in the world of music and media.

For One Night Only by Jessica James feels like a love letter to all the fans out there who used to follow their favorite groups, read fanfics about them, and eventually bawled their eyes out at the news of their break up.

I absolutely loved this debut from Jessica James, as it was incredibly charming. I always forget how much of a sucker I am for a second chance romance until I read one that quickly becomes a new favorite. Which was the case in this second chance romance that finds two exes come face to face for the first time in years to bring the band back together for one more show for the fans.

One thing I absolutely adored with this book was the tension between not just our main couple but the other band members as well. I think any time we go through a break-up of any kind it wouldn’t be realistic to see everything fall into place right away. And Iames absolutely delivered on showing the tension between all the band members, and the added tension on the ex lovers. It was amazing to see not only the lovers find themselves falling each other again, but to watch the beauty of friendships being rebuilt.

Another area James excelled in was making this a love letter to all those who have been fans. I loved the references to the Glitter Bats fans and all of their excitement for the band getting back together. And of course we love the ship name, Calerie, because we all know as fans ship names are very important. Even the mentions of fanfic dealing with the band just felt very natural and so perfect. It reminded me of being part of a fandom (I truly felt like I was part of the Glitter Bats fan base ready to buy a ticket for their reunion) and how fun it is.

But the author also did a great job of showing the humanity in our favorite musicians by showing what they were dealing with behind the scenes. I especially loved how she showed our MMC struggling with coming back to the fame while dealing with his anxiety. As someone who has a more severe anxiety disorder I loved seeing the representation, but especially in a male love interest. It was a nice reminder that men don’t have to bury their emotions or problems they face. And watching how he dealt with times the anxiety became too much felt extremely therapeutic and needed.

I absolutely adored the way the author showed how much fame can damage one’s mental health as it does remind us that celebrities are humans with feelings. I also loved how she made a commentary on how it was easy for Valerie to be labeled in negative light due to biphobia and misogyny within the industry.

The one main issue I did have with this book was how our FMC, Valerie, struggled at the end of the book. It felt like she was struggling with her own anxiety that stemmed from her life in the spotlight, but it was resolved without her exploring this a bit more. I think it would have been nice to see her take the step to find a therapist to help process what fame and her family issues had done to her.

Especially with how much she hurt her friends and person she loved. While it did get resolved and worked out in the end, I would have loved to see a bit of an indicator that showed she would take a step towards her own mental health journey.

“Maybe I just believe in whatever brings “Maybe I just believe in whatever brings me back to you.” “You give me something to believe in too.” He squeezes me tight, then reaches for my chin, softly drawing my mouth to his. me back to you.” “You give me something to believe in too.” He squeezes me tight, then reaches for my chin, softly drawing my mouth to his.

This is a second-chance lovers romance, following Valerie who is literally looking for a second chance at life in my opinion. She needs to fix her image because her life is in shambles and hurries to get her band, Glitter Bats, back together for a reunion concert. The only problem is she needs to get back in contact with her ex, Caleb. We all know where this story goes from here right?

I struggled with the story in the beginning because Valerie irritated my soul. Eventually, though, the story picked up and I was able to get past it. The pining was strong in this book - Caleb was down bad for Valerie - but they both thought they had unrequited feelings. Again, frustrating. They do have their forgiveness arc and hash things out, getting their HEA in the end.

For One Night Only was such a fun read and I finished it in one sitting! Valerie's reputation is in shambles and in order to get her TV show renewed for another season, she gets her old band, Glitter Bats, back together for one last concert. The only problem? Valerie hasn't spoken to her old band mates in six years.

I loved seeing the band work out their problems as they came together to make this last concert worthwhile for the fans. Seeing the behind the scenes of this process was so interesting and made me root for them to make it work. The side characters were all a delight to get to know throughout the book. They each had such distinct personalities that came together so nicely. This was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book!

Throughout this whole process, the press speculates on whether or not Caleb and Valerie are back together, which they decide to play into. I loved the extra layer of complexity the fake dating gave the story! It made the relationship a bit messy (in a good way!) and interesting. I would have loved to see Caleb and Valerie communicate a bit more clearly and set expectations, but Valerie was incredibly impulsive and decided on things without consulting Caleb.

This is an ongoing struggle throughout the book, which made Valerie a bit of an unlikeable character. This would have been fine if she learned and grew from it, but she did not until the very end. It was only in the last 10-15% of the book that we see Valerie have any character development. There is a third act conflict, which I mostly enjoyed. My one issue is that things were solved a little too easily for my liking, especially after what Valerie did.

I found the anxiety representation in this book to have been done extremely well. I saw myself a lot in Caleb and his struggle with his anxiety throughout the book. I also enjoyed the discussion on bisexuality and how it frames the way Valerie is portrayed in the media.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am so excited to see what Jessica James releases in the future!

ummmmm i dare you to try to wipe the grin from reading this book off my face (you can’t)

📚 this book follows caleb and valerie six years after it rock band, glitter bats, split. in a desperate attempt for good press, val convinces the rock band to reunite for an anniversary concert concert — that also means facing caleb. he left the industry with a broken heart, but he’s never been able to say no val

maybe it was that undeniable #calerie chemistry or maybe it was that karaoke scene but my heart was just soaring the entire time i was reading this 💕 valerie and caleb were childhood friends before their falling out and we get to see how music helps them both reignite their passions and reconnect with one another. it’s sweet and slow, but their feelings are just simmering the whole time it’s perfection!

i’ve also never read a contemporary romance that portrays anxiety as accurately as james does in this book?? it makes me feel seen and omg caleb my bby i just wanted to wrap him in a hug 🥺

there is a bit of a fanfic quality to the writing. sometimes the first person pov reads like diary entries, sometimes the characters are over the top, and ohhh my the third act break up!! i think we needed a whole book to just unpack all that 🫢 but this cast of characters got me obsessed with their band. it was like i was 16 again reading all the lore and watching concert vids on tumblr ✨ i think im officially a glitter bug 🦇 where can i buy some band merch?

thank you @berkleyromance and @netgalley for a copy of this arc!

For One Night Only is a fun rockstar romance. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I do love a good second chance trope. Caleb and Valerie have so much built up between them despite not seeing each other after they quit band several years prior. The band is named Glitter Bats (I love that name so much and don't know why lol) and to save Valerie's reputation they agree to a reunion show.

Everything centers around this one night only show - nothing like forced proximity to really bring them together. I thought Caleb and Val had great chemistry. It's obvious how much they care for each other and how much they also ruined one another. At times it almost felt toxic - my biggest thing with the book is they both needed massive growth as individuals before having their second chance. I think they weren't *quite* there yet when they come together and could've used a bit more time to earn that chance. But I love romances with imperfect humans and we definitely see that here!

I thought the other band members were interesting and I honestly wanted to know more. There was quite a bit of hinting at their own love stories so who knows? Haha
The little interstitials between chapters to further the story were super fun.

There is also mental health representation and queer representation.

Overall I enjoyed this book - it's the author's debut! I definitely recommend it if this sounds like your thing.