A great debut from Jessica James, perfect for fans of music-themed romances and second chance romances.

I really liked the chemistry and tension between the two main characters in this novel. Former bandmates and secret lovers with a complicated backstory, Val and Caleb are in perfect harmony on stage and yet constantly out of sync in their personal lives. I enjoyed the Glitter Bat reunion storyline, as well as the interplay between the side characters. I do wish that we saw Val’s growth happen a little sooner—her selfishness, especially in light of her backstory, makes her an interesting character but I felt like she took a little longer to learn from it than I would have liked. Still, the ultimate resolution was satisfying. I do want three of the side characters to start a throuple but hey, we can’t have it all.

rep: FMC is bisexual and deals with some biphobia, MMC has anxiety and deals with panic attacks.

I absolutely adored this second-chance romance and the debut novel by Jessica James. Her story centers around a fictional band reunion! Valerie and Caleb were truly destined for each other, and I loved seeing them reconnect as both musicians and lovers. The dynamics of their band were just as captivating, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the rest of the group. This book transported me back to my high school and college days of attending concerts. The storyline about fans working to revive Valerie’s canceled show .Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early. I look forward to reading more of Jessica James books in the future.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of For One Night Only by Jessica James!

Valerie used to be a member of the band Glitter Bats but has since joined the cast of a TV show. With the show at risk of cancellation, Valerie pursues a plan to generate good press in hopes to save the show. She reassembles the Glitter Bats members for a reunion concert. The reunion puts Valerie back in close proximity to her former bandmate and bedmate, Caleb, who completely left the industry six years ago.

I am in LOVE with this book! And Valerie and Caleb! And all of the Glitter Bats!! For our main pair, there are so many moments that made me melt. From the beginning, you'll know that these two need their second chance romance and find their way back to each other. I thought the rest of the bandmates had such well developed personalities - I loved each one of them! I also thought this book did such an incredible job building the band’s fandom. I'd also love to be a Glitterbug!

I’m hopeful for another book in the Glitter Bats universe - there’s definitely another pair I’m shipping!! :)

I was so excited for this release! The angst. The second chance. The first love lost. The band aspect - I love the Glitter Bats and all of their found family dynamics. I loved the undercurrent of the record company dynamics, and the way this story deals with what early success can do to young people, especially when they don't have the family or management or public support to handle it. The chemistry between Caleb and Val was really well done and you could feel the history and pining and tension. I also really liked the way the rest of the Glitter Bats interacted with one another and the way they each play a stereotypical "role" within the group - Jane is the peacemaker, Riker the fun guy with a heart of gold, Keeley the tough as nails one that's secretly hurting.

Where this fell a little short for me was in how Val's character development happened. I did love the fact that she was very much a flawed anti-heroine. It's always refreshing to read about a female lead that is less than perfect. But as the story went on, I struggled a bit with some of the decisions she made. We would see the action from Caleb's POV, and then get to Val's where she often doubled down on the selfish and (frankly mean at times) decisions she makes. Caleb gets the raw end of the deal, and I didn't see a ton of grovelling or apology from Val when it came to him.

I do have to say that Jessica's writing was great and so engaging. The pacing was good and it had me wanting to keep going. I am excited for what's next from her!

Some books should stay fan fiction and that’s okay. Now I don’t know if this was truly fan fiction, but it felt that way. It felt like an immature personal fantasy that did not translate to a full blown book. None of the characters were likable and I wasn’t really rooting for anyone. It was just a lot of everyone being mean to each other and then really quickly forgiving others for some really messed up actions. The romance being a fake dating, second chance, and friends to lovers situation was a bit much. Also the fact that more than half the characters had last names that sounded like first names (which is clearly in line with the author’s personal name) made it confusing when going back and forth referring to them by first or just last name.

I loved the messiness of The Glitter Bats, and how much I felt like I really knew the band as an entity, not just Caleb and Valerie. All the interstitials were super fun too! A wonderful rock star romance.

This book was a solidly impressive debut novel for Jessica James. If you’re into second chance, rockstar/celebrity romance with a healthy dose of turmoil, add this one to your TBR.

Valerie Quinn was an incredibly complex character who was as frustrating as she was understandable. She routinely made choices that had me wanting to shake her but I knew exactly why she was making them. Her struggles were so real and the impact it had on her and the people she loved was visceral. I could feel the impulsive moves she was going to make coming and I felt like I was on the crash course right alongside her wishing I could stop her and knowing it was inevitable. Inevitable because it needed to happen to turn the corner and the way off that path. The resolution did not come without some intense self-reflection and facing hard truths, but it made it that much more worth it in the end.

I had such a soft spot for Caleb Sloane. His anxiety mirrored so much of what I’ve felt myself (minus the whole “rockstar” famous element of it all) and I felt like I channeled all the comfort and understanding to him that I wish I could give myself in my more anxious moments. He was such a genuine, kind person. I wanted to protect him from others and, in a way, himself. He had a bit of pathological people pleaser about him (again, can relate) especially when it came to people he loved. His internal conflict he had to face over determining what he wanted and needed for himself and what he was willing to do for others was so authentic. Also authentic was the letting it all build inside until it breaks and needing time and space to work through it but not being able to communicate that well in the face of heightened emotions and feeling like you’re spiraling (or so I might imagine…).

I don’t know if this is intended to potentially be a series but I was left with a lot of questions and loose ends with the other members of the band that I’d really like to know more about. I felt like there was a lot included in their story that didn’t get resolved and I’d love to see how some things play out.

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

I love a second chance romance and put it as 2 members of a pop punk rock band, it's so great. I love musical books, I love that the "getting the band back together" is not all a bed of roses especially as how they ended the first time.

Caleb deals with anxiety and is getting the help/medication he needs for that. Valerie is his best friend and she is a calming balm to him. They have a tough time trying to find the magic of the music they once had but I love how they both worked at it. I loved the band members- June, Keeley and Riker and how they didn't bend to anyone's opinion of them.

This book is filled with news clips, social media posts with comments, and a great reporter who once again is writing about the band that started her career. Great debut

For One Night Only by Jessica James gave me all the feels and then some. Valerie and Caleb’s chemistry practically leapt off the page—there’s nothing quite like the tension of old flames being thrown back together. Valerie’s mix of vulnerability and strength made me root for her instantly, and Caleb? Total swoon. His struggles felt real, and I loved seeing his softer, more honest side emerge as the story unfolded.

This book is a perfect mix of angst, romance, and second-chance magic. The music, the nostalgia, and all the messy emotions made it impossible to put down. If you love stories about complicated love and characters who get under your skin, For One Night Only is a must-read. It’s raw, it’s sweet, and it left me grinning like an idiot. ★★★★★

This was a solid debut! I really enjoyed the angst of seeing the band navigate their past hurts and try to find a way to work together again. I also loved that the representation for mental health and queer characters (the FMC is bi and a side character is also not straight). Caleb was an absolute sweetheart. He was down bad for Val and I fell hard for him once we got to see how sensitive he is. In addition to being really sweet this story is also quite sexy. Caleb and Val's chemistry was off the charts! Second chance is truly the hardest trope to pull off so it's a doozy to take on in a debut. This book didn't ~quite get there for me because I wanted to see that Val and Caleb had learned how to communicate well and we definitely didn't get to see that. However we did get some quality angst and pining so I'm really looking forward to this author's future books.

Shut the whole fuck up. I loved this book so much!

If life hadn't gotten in the way I could have eaten this whole book up in one sitting.

Jessica James debut was astounding! Rockstar second chance romance with a stunning cast of characters. I loved them all from page one!! Jane, Riker and Keely are some of my favorite side characters ever! Their personalities were all so great and I'm hoping they all get their own stories later! So many unresolved things I'd love to get more of!

Valerie was such an intriguing character. I loved her and I saw so much of myself in her. The constant need to feel relevant and enough. The pressure she put on herself to be this perfect girl. I think most girls can relate to her and the terrible and rash choices she often made.

Caleb my guy. Oh man I love him so much. He was such an amazing brother/caretaker and truly felt for everything he was going through and the choices he made.

I really think Val and Caleb were meant for each other in every way. They are so similar in so many ways. Down to the ways they hurt each other even without meaning to.

The musical aspect of this book was soooo well written. I love that I could tell the author has a background in music because everything felt so well researched and well accurate. The song lyrics didn't feel like an author just trying to write song. They actually felt like real music.

Can not say enough nice things about this book truly. So excited for more books from this debut author and hopefully more Glitter Bats in the future!

Big thanks to Berkley for the e-arc and to Jessica James for letting me be a part of her traveling arc program!

I am convinced Jessica James sparkles magic into her words because I don't know how else to explain how I heard the music and felt the chemistry of the Glitter Bat's stage presence.

Valerie Quinn feels the pressure of the chopping block when she realizes that her only tie to "fame"might not be renewed for the next season. To up her image and generate hype (and ultimately save her show), Valerie plans the reunion of the Glitter Bats, her band that vanished from the public eye mid-tour six years ago. She knows that this also means reaching out to Caleb Sloane, a particular Glitter Bats bandmate that fans speculate as the source of the band's disappearance. This book takes on a dual-POV and switches between Valerie Quinn and her bandmate Caleb Sloane. For One Night Only blends the lively, heartful band elements of 'Daisy Jones & the Six' and the second chance romantic tension from 'People We Meet on Vacation'.

I am always hesitant when it comes to books with musical plot points because I feel like a lot of it has to do with HOW the author portrays the music on pages to make it feel alive to the reader. I can say with 1000% confidence that Jessica James understood the assignment and nailed it. I was captivated reading the scenes when the band played together, the way she switched from describing the music to how the band interacted with it was mesmerizing. The band! I loved how this story wasn't just about Val and Cal, it brought Keeley, Jane, Riker, and even Wade. Everyone had a place and it felt like they added to the story and I would even say there wouldn't be a story without them. Loved the found family element and found myself tearing up from the band interactions as well as Val and Cal's story.

The reason why this book was a 5 star for me is because of the exploration into the depth of the characters like Caleb and the mental health representation and the relationship conflict between Val and her mom. First for Cal, I appreciated the anxiety that went beyond the nerves of performing on stage. Also the nods to financial dependency and being forced to mature early made his character that much stronger. The relationship between Val and her mom had me screaming and raging for her. There were so many factors that were folded into this story and it was handled beautifully. We never stop growing and changing and the way each character approached that change was beautiful.

Last but not least! The mixed media. Jessica James your attention to detail will not go unnoticed!!! I absolutely loved the mixed media in this book and the world building was PEAK. The lyrics to the band music were like precious poetry breaks! I AM A GLITTERBUG!!! These pieces made me feel like the author wrote this as a love letter to being a fan and made this so special.

Such an amazing strong debut from Jessica James and I will be on the lookout for more her writing in the future. Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book! #CalErie #GlitterBats5ever

For One Night Only is a solid debut that fans of Daisy Jones and the Six or Livy Hart's characters will enjoy!

When Valerie Quinn learns that the TV show she stars in may be cancelled, she needs to drum up some good press. Her solution? Getting the Glitter Bats back together for a one night show after they quickly stopped touring six years ago. Most haven't talked or seen one another in that time span, especially Caleb and Valerie. Getting him to rejoin the band is simple for him, he needs the money so that his younger sister can go to college and live out her dreams. But quickly, Valerie realizes that maybe there's more than just one show left in all of them. While Caleb wants nothing more than that, he just can't ignore the allure that is Valerie and their old feelings. Will this band truly make it to the one night concert or will things halt in their tracks?

I immediately fell in love with Jessica's book due to the cover and the premise of a rock band reuniting under somewhat messy circumstances. I REALLY loved the mental health representation and how therapy/anxiety pills are okay to take, especially when things are rocky. The LGBTQ quotes and overall joy that Jess gave these characters made my heart soar, we need more of that this upcoming year. For One Night Only is a solid debut and one that I'll recommend for others to read in the upcoming months. I also can't help but be curious.. will there be more glitter bats. What happened with two of those band mates? ;)

"For One Night Only" is a contemporary novel by Jessica James that explores the dynamics of a second-chance romance and its consequences. Focusing on the impact of impulsive decisions, the book combines romantic comedy elements with reflections on intimacy and commitment.

The story centers on Valerie Quinn, a woman caught between her ambitions, and Caleb Sloane, an important man in her life, and from Glitter Bats. What starts as a simple proposition turns into an emotional challenge that forces them to reconsider their priorities and desires.

Jessica James uses a fluid narrative style filled with quick-witted dialogues that give energy to the story. Although some situations feel predictable within the romantic genre, the book keeps the interest by delving into the character's inner conflicts. However, there could have been a bit more character development, but their interactions reflect both humor and vulnerability, managing to entertain the reader.

The book addresses themes such as the importance of taking risks, emotional barriers, and the idea that even the briefest encounters can transform a life. Although it doesn't stray from the classic formulas of romantic comedy, the narrative offers entertaining moments.

In conclusion, For One Night Only is a light and enjoyable read, ideal for those who enjoy romantic stories with a contemporary touch. While it doesn't reinvent the genre, the novel provides a pleasant and easy-to-enjoy experience, perfect for disconnecting and getting carried away by a simple yet effective plot.

This book feels like a Miley Cyrus fan fic except make it pop punk. The characters are super frustrating and inconsistent. This was kind of a mess.

The voice on this jumps off the page! Rich, dynamic characters that feel real, with a great romance that will have you rooting for them to get together. I need an encore!

What a gem!!! Loved this one from the start and loved the chemistry between Valerie and Caleb. Loved the music aspect of the story. I love a second chance romance and this one was amazing! Highly recommend

This was a standout second chance, rockstar, dual POV debut that had unexpectedly great mental health (anxiety and panic attack) rep in the MMC. I really enjoyed this on audio and would highly recommend for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six. Great narration by Mx Nicky Endres, Helen Laser and Colton Woods truly made the audiobook an excellent experience. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

What an enjoyable romance! I truly appreciated the chemistry between the band members, even during their conflicts. Valerie and Caleb were a passionate couple seeking a second chance at love. I also enjoyed the interludes that followed each chapter. If you’re a fan of a lighter DJ & the 6 vibe, this will definitely be fun for you. I look forward to seeing more of the Glitter Bats in the future!