I devoured this within hours. I absolutely loved this and how Avery she overcame her struggles. My kingdom for Lucas. He was the perfect MMC. The ending was so perfect and I was holding back tears. Sweet and sexy in the perfect package.

I have been in a huge reading slump lately and Love is a War Song pulled me right out. I devoured it.

I love cowboy romances and celebrity romances and this book put the two together and it was amazing!! The romance was top tier. It was such a good slow burn.

did i devour this in one day? yes i did.

I LOVED THIS!!!!! it truly felt like a disney movie (for adults) in the best way. if you love cowboys and the hannah montana movie you will love this!!!!

i was hooked from the beginning. avery has to go to a small town in OK called broken arrow to get away from the spotlight of her latest and most public scandal which outraged the populace. she is a native american pop star whose intentions were in the right place but whose delivery was harmful to her community. in the town of broken arrow she meets her grandmother for the first time and a small group of workers, including lucas, our hero.

i loved the stuff that she got into while on the horse ranch. when i say it played out like a movie it really did! i could imagine EVERYTHING going on. i loved how grumpy lucas was and how off put he was by avery, but within reason. the two clashed at every turn but it was never over the top or ridiculous. it felt so natural.

i thought their relationship progressed so nicely. god, lucas!!!!! i LOVE him so much. he really tested avery but she had no problem telling him off. when he started to care for her, it melted me. the black shoelace????? STOPPPP. i loved how avery stood up for him against his parents and his story was so heartbreaking and sad 🥲

avery is a child star/actor, whose mom is both her mother and manager. this leads to some points of conflict, of course, especially because her mother doesn't speak to her grandma. watching lottie come around to avery after spending time there was so beautiful. avery really learned to respect the life in broken arrow and embrace her heritage. lottie took no crap and i loved her energy!!!

the only reason this isn't 5 stars is i do feel like the writing could use some work—there was one part that had the same sentence repeated twice in two different paragraphs and it kind of sucked me out of the story for a second—and the conflict between lottie and her mother didn't get resolved or even discussed really, at all. with lucas, too, i feel like he was present for 95% of the book but i wished there were more conversations between him and avery. we learn about his backstory but idk i just wanted more from him.

i still absolutely loved this and it was a super quick read!!!!!

thank you berkley for the arc!

I had no idea I was missing a pop star/cowboy romance in my life, but now I know I was! All of the characters felt real--personality flaws and all, and I loved getting to see the relationship develop between Avery and Lucas. In addition to the romance, one of my favorite parts of Nava's writing is her portrayal of characters who are differently abled. Can't wait to read what she comes out with next!

Avery Fox is a former Disney show star who now, in her early 20's, has reinvented herself as a pop star with her catchy dance single "I need a warrior." But when she poses provocatively on the cover of Rolling Stone wearing a feather warbonnet, the backlash is swift and strong. She is dropped from her advertising opportunities and her song stops being streamed. To cope with her being canceled, she escapes to her grandmother Lottie's ranch in Oklahoma. And this fish-out-of-water story continues with the LA girl working on cleaning horse stables at the ranch.

Lucas is a cowboy that has no reason to leave the small town and is the most handsome man she has ever seen. Lottie asks him to pick up her granddaughter at the bus station, and he is surprised to find Avery Fox, he hates everything she represents. They reach a mutually beneficial agreement to help the local financial situation and he teaches her about what it means to share a culture and heritage and community.

I appreciate Danica Nava's writing, I think she writes great dialogue and good pacing. I jumped at the chance to read this book as her sophomore effort after last year's "The Truth According to Ember." This is a stronger story, and examines themes of what it means to be held accountable for one's choices and finding your place and understanding where you come from. Jeff Zentner examined this last year with "Colton Gentry's Third Act" as a singer is canceled because of his stance on gun laws.

This angle made me think about the entertainment industry and how we are so quick to self-righteously become indignant at the face of the issue. In this book, Avery is a young girl basically doing what her manager and the record company is telling her to do. She is a product, not a producer. I have learned that there are producers of racist ideas and there are consumers of racist ideas, and our accountability needs to be on those producers. I was disgusted, as most of us were, ten years ago when Kendall Jenner was in a Pepsi ad that suggested Pepsi be the answer to racism. But unfortunately most of us were upset with Kendall Jenner, who was probably doing what she was told and a product. That would be like me being mad at my bottle of Mrs. Butterworth's syrup.

I love how Lucas and Avery came together to understand each other. They had great chemistry and this was a perfect setting and set-up. Although Avery is in her early 20s it does read more like a YA book, there is one open door spicy scene but easily skippable if this is not your thing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for the ARC. I was gifted this copy in exchange for an honest review. Book to be published July 22, 2025.

This was such a fun book! I will not lie, I went into this completely blind, but was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it!

After a magazine cover photo upsets (what seems like) the entire nation, Native American pop star Avery Fox becomes the latest victim of cancel culture. To protect Avery and help her connect with her Indigenous roots, Avery sets off to spend time with her estranged grandmother in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. While there, she learns what it’s like to “live in the real world” and help her grandma Lottie run Red Fox Ranch. Along the way, she meet Lucas Iron Eyes, a grumpy ranch hand she can’t seem to stay away from, and discovers what family, love, and being Muskogee really mean.

First and foremost, I loved the representation in this book. I don’t know that I’ve read a romance book featuring a Native American protagonist, but I am desperate for more. I am so glad authors like Danica Nava exist and hope she (and others) continue to share their stories.

Secondly, I loved the twist of the celebrity falls for “regular” person trope that was featured in this book. Lucas and Avery’s tension was off the charts good and I appreciated the evolution of their relationship. I also really liked seeing the shift in Avery’s relationship with her grandma. Lottie was tough, but I think she and Avery learned to see each other for who they truly were, and I respected that.

At its core, I think this book was about more than just Avery understanding her Native American heritage. It was about what it means to be family and what true love, human connection, and community look like.

This one is definitely one you’ll want to pick up, preorder, or request from your library this summer!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!

Avery Fox is a former child star and now has a number-one single. Her dream of being a singer/songwriter is finally coming true. Excited about appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone, she faces a backlash when the public is appalled that she is wearing a warbonnet and capitalizing on her Native American heritage. To get her out of the public eye, her mother sends her to stay with her grandmother Lottie in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Avery has never been to Oklahoma and hasn't met any of her family. Hoping to learn more about her heritage and get back in the public's good graces, Avery struggles with life on the ranch. Her grandmother doesn't welcome her with open arms, Lucas the ranch hand doesn't like her or her single "I Need A Warrior" and a horse eats her hair! During her time in Oklahoma, Avery's priorities change. As a member of the Chickasaw tribe and a life long Oklahoman, I liked the setting, characters, and lessons in this book.

Love Is a War Song had a lot of promise, and I really wanted to love it. For the most part, it was an entertaining read, with a premise that immediately caught my attention. I really appreciated that the main characters wasn't perfect, or immediately portrayed as the perfect "cool girl" - we got to see how human and flawed she was, her naive nature in letting the recording industry guide her astray with her music and image. I was really rooting for her to find her strength and for some peace in her relationship with her mother. One of the most special aspects of this book is the representation of Indigenous characters in a contemporary romance. It’s not often we see this particular intersection, and it’s refreshing to read a story that highlights Indigenous experiences and perspectives, particularly within the context of modern love and conflict.

However, what held me back from fully connecting with the book was the writing style. I’m someone who tends to gravitate toward books that show me what’s happening, rather than just telling me. Unfortunately, in this case, I often felt like I was being told rather than shown, which made it harder for me to fully immerse myself in the story. It felt more like I was being told the characters’ emotions and motivations rather than experiencing them firsthand.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

I recently read Danica Nava's debut rom-com and absolutely loved it. I was very excited to dive into her next book, and it did not disappoint. "Love is a War Song" tells the story of a disgraced pop star who flees to Oklahoma to stay with her estranged grandmother in order to learn more about her identity and heritage. The book has a more emotional tone, and I appreciated watching Avery grow and develop a deeper connection with her community.

The story features Lucas Iron Eyes, a grumpy cowboy who is impossible not to love. Although Lottie, her grandmother, initially appears cold and indifferent, I enjoyed discovering the ways she shows her caring nature toward Avery.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves slow-burn romances, particularly those featuring a pop star and a cowboy, as well as themes of self-discovery and identity.

berkley is really out here repping the 2025 rock star roannces!!!! from jessica james, alicia thompson, kate golden, and ashley poston we are booked and busy!!! i feel, though, that this one truly focused on their romantic development and i couldn’t help but root for them from the first chapter!!!! it provided a unique take on what could potentially be an overtired trope and i loved every second of it

When Native pop star Avery Fox is canceled for wearing a warbonnet on the cover of Rolling Stone, she's sent to live with her estranged grandmother on a horse ranch in rural Oklahoma, where she has to deal with a prickly grandmother who she barely knows and Lucas Iron Eyes, a ranch hand who seems to hate her—and her music—at first sight. As Avery grows to care for the ranch and the people (and horses!) who live there, she connects with her identity and her own life in a new way that will change her forever.

LOVE IS A WAR SONG is compulsively readable, and does a great job telling Avery's story as she connects with her roots, discovers the family she's always wanted, and learns to stand on her own for the first time in her life. The setting and cast of characters are really fun and the romance is well paced, with lots of tension and very believable problems that Avery and Lucas have to overcome both as a couple and on their own individual terms. I also really enjoyed Avery's relationship with her grandmother, Lottie.

Charming, classic, and a whole lot of fun, Love is a War Song is for the girlies who watched the Hannah Montana movie and fell head over heels for the popstar and grumpy cowboy. There were so many antics throughout the book, keeping up the pace, while genuine moments of connection, kindness, and love balanced them out. If you’re looking for a cozy Romance, this one is it!

Danica Nava weaves a beautiful story of family, community and finding one’s true self.

Avery Fox, a pop singer, makes a huge mistake that damages her career. Her mother, who is also her manager, sends her to live with her Grandmother, Lottie, until the issue dies down. It is there where she meets Lucas, a rugged cowboy who makes it clear he doesn’t like her. The attraction is instant but with Lottie’s rules, they do their best to keep their feelings hidden.

Avery learns a lot about her family, her culture and herself while in the care of Lottie. She grows and develops the courage to truly be herself. She finds a sense of belonging and fills the need of family.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to more of Danica’s work!

This cements that I will read anything by Danica Nava, I'm so serious. If she writes a grocery list, I'm reading it (and I'm sure that it will still be hilarious somehow). Just when I was losing hope that I would never find a romance that intrigued me again, this book really came in and saved the day. I read it in one sitting, because every character Nava writes just feels so true to life. Even if I don't know what it's like to be Native or feel disconnected from the culture, Nava makes you feel it in your heart and forces you to feel every emotion the characters feel.

Danica Nava’s intriguing second novel cements her onto my list of must-read authors.

Avery Fox faces major PR backlash after being on the cover of Rolling Stones in a feather warbonnet. As death threats and the possibility of being cut from her record label, she ends up in her family’s hometown of Broken Arrow. Living on the rez is a learning curve for the pop star, but it may be just what she needs to find herself again.

As a huge Hannah Montana: The Movie fan, this book brought a very nostalgic feeling. As Avery navigates her roots, I believe the reader also gets the chance to drop their real-life expectations and be present for the journey.

I recommend this to readers who enjoy tropes like fish out of water, grumpy sunshine, slow burn, and forced proximity.

Thank you Berkley for the eARC for review consideration!

Thank you Netgally for the ARC. This was the second book written by Danica Nava. I loved the Truth According to Ember because of the anxious emotions. This second book isn’t as strong as the first and has a different feel. It’s light and heartfelt and I’m really enjoying and learning more about Native Americans even if it’s through pop culture fiction.

There were definitely times I felt too old to be the audience for this book, but I love the grace it gives the main character to make mistakes, learn, and grow.

The timeline of the story felt a little rushed especially at the end. I found the characters, especially Lucas, to be enjoyable. I would've loved this book more if it was dual POV. Overall it was great and my complaints were with the trope of the book.

Alright, I hinted that my review would be an essay on social media. So let’s begin. For decades, many authors have written about minority communities and have relegated them to be caricatures, painted them with harsh stereotypes, and left them voiceless. This has existed especially for Native Americans (especially in the Western Romance genre). That’s why I’m so proud of Danica Nava. She’s reclaiming a part of the genre that needs diversity and quite frankly new voices.

Love is a War Song for me is a book about identity, community, and belonging. Avery Fox is rightly ostracized after a scandal related to her new music video and Rolling Stone cover (it’s bad like cringe level bad). She flees the fallout by hiding out in her grandmother’s ranch in Oklahoma. While living there she begins to connect with a part of her history and culture that she was never exposed to or learned about her entire life. She has moments of self discovery.

Oh yeah, she also falls in love with cowboy in residence Lucas Iron Eyes. Totally grumpy and sunshine vibes with their love story and it’s a good slow burn.

This book for me as a reader of colour is a reminder, never make yourself palatable for individuals that don’t take the time to understand your culture. Lean into what makes you special. Never be ashamed of your history, and it’s ok to sit down to learn more about your familial history.

Giving this 5 starts cause whew, Avery and Lucas are really going to blow you away. Also Danica wrote and recorded
‘Need a Warrior Tonight’ that you can listen to right now! Hoping for a recorded version of 'Heartbeat' soon.

First things first you need to go watch the author’s music video for the FMC’s hit single. It is a BANGER!
The full track is also on Spotify & Apple music!

Avery is a pop star and former child actor, she makes a big mistake and the internet cancels her - she flees to her grandmother’s ranch in Oklahoma to escape the drama and connect with her roots - and may just fall in love (with a rugged cowboy) along the way.

This book made me FEEL things!

This story felt so real and relatable - the author does a phenomenal job at making you feel things; embarrassment, disappointment, heart-break, sorrow - I felt the full gambit of emotions while reading this! The amount of cringing and second-hand embarrassment I felt is reason enough to recommend this book.

What I love l most about this book is the overall message the author is giving us. People make mistakes, intent vs impact is sometimes nuanced - but intent never excuses. Our mistakes only define us if we don’t learn and grow from them. I loved watching our FMC, Avery grow!

What’s to love…
- SLOW BURN
- indigenous rep
- the author really makes you feel that second-hand embarrassment
- messy - in the best way possible
- the BANGER single by Avery Fox
- COWBOYS
- they get caught in a storm

What’s not to love…
- my biggest critique is the writing style/prose - it felt very basic and over explanatory. This is something i’d expect from a YA book, but for an adult novel I want the author to have a little more faith in the reader’s ability to infer things. Show me, rather than tell me the feelings the characters are having.
- along the same lines the dialogue often felt a little stiff and unnatural.

1🌶️ - There is only one explicit scene (Ch 22) - pretty mild and easy to skip if you prefer.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.