Ashley Poston has done it again. I didn't think I could ever love a romcom as much as I adored "The Seven Year Slip", but here we are.

Poston wonderfully combines laugh out loud humor with tender, heartfelt moments. If you love music, small southern towns, or just a good story, "Sounds Like Love" is for you.

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up!

I think I have cried reading every Ashley Poston book at this point. Her voice is so unique and she is so insanely talented at her craft. She truly never misses.

“We were all made of up memories, anyway. Of ourselves, of other people. We were built on the songs sang to us and the songs we sang to ourselves, the songs we listened to with broken hearts and the ones we danced to at weddings.”

I fell in love with this story and these characters. Within every setting in her novels, she writes the most beautiful imagery and it was just coming right off the page. I felt like I was there on the North Carolina coast with Joni and Sasha and it makes me crave summer!! This book hit me like a ton of bricks — the love and grief is so intense. I think that a lot of people will relate HARD to this book and I’m happy I was able to read it at this time in my life.

“You feel like home, bird.”

My only criticism is that I wanted more between Joni and Sasha, but I am just selfish! Really really really loved this!

Thank you so much to Berkley for the advanced copy! Out June 17!!!!

Everything Ashley writes a masterpiece. I said what I said. If I could inject her stories into my soul, I would.

Besties at Berkley & NetGalley, and Ashley— Thank you for the free advanced reader copy. I am forever changed once again.

Each time I begin an Ashley Poston book, I know I’m setting myself up to cry. And this one really got me in the feels. Ashley always finds a way to weave the all of the emotions from the complicated narrative of life into one beautiful book.

In Sounds Like Love: Romance, self-discovery, friendship, mental health, creativity, grief, and so much more are braided into one book and all have their very own respective space in each chapter. It takes a very special writer to give all of those feelings space to breathe and seamlessly flow into one another.

The magical realism, as always, is soOoO good. Who wouldn’t want to hear Joni or Sasha in their head? These talented individuals bring a vivid passion and heartbeat to this book, and the tension between them was oh-so-delicious. It was the “giggling and kicking my feet” kind of love.

I have spent my whole life immersing myself in music, and this book spoke to that piece of my soul in so many different ways. From Joni’s parents’ love story to her own life’s journey, I love how deeply connected to music everyone in this book is. It grounded the story in reality in a new way.

On a personal note, this book also contains a heartbreaking but incredibly realistic portrayal of when a loved one is battling dementia. It is so difficult to put into words, but having been through the same journey with my grandmother… it is the most helpless and hard thing for a family to go through. I highly suggest reading the Author’s Note at the end.

Five million stars 4eva.

Sounds Like Love is another beautiful and magical romance by Ashley Poston. Joni Lark and Sebastian Fell are in each others heads--literally--they can hear each other thoughts. In order to get their thoughts back to themselves, the two artists have to work together to write a song that they both seam to hear during a magical summer in Joni's hometown in the Outer Banks. I loved the book and easily devoured it. Every character was lovable and fully developed, and the family stakes on both sides felt real and made me cry. It was fun seeing the central pair get to know each other while being unable to hide their thoughts from the other. A fun concept and lovely romance. Each of the chapter titles is a different song and I loved seeing what the next one would be. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC! Joni Lark is a successful songwriter with a current hit at the top of the charts, but she's currently blocked and is worried she'll never write another song. After a run in with a former boy band member that involved a stadium cam kiss, Joni returns to her home in North Carolina, and to the music showhouse the Revelery that her parents run. She's hoping to find inspiration while also spending time with her mother behind she loses her. But once there, Joni starts hearing a voice inside her head and a melody that sparks something in her. When the voice inside her head arrives in real life (and is someone very familiar), Joni is faced with discovering what she truly want in life.

“Grief is just a love song in reverse”

Gosh darn it Ashley Poston. How dare you hit me in the feels at 2PM on a random Thursday.

Y’all I love Ashley Poston. Her books always take you on an emotional journey filled with magical realisms. I knew going in I was going to love it. What I wasn’t expecting was “Sounds Like Love” to hit so close to home. A little personal backstory. I lost my amazing grandmother due to a battle with dementia. So reading Joni’s story, going through the ups and downs of watching a loved one battle with dementia hit hard for me. Even though it was hard, Ashley did a phenomenal job of blending that journey with heartache, hope and magic.

But Joni’s mom storyline isn’t the only part of this books journey. This also follows the love story between Joni & Sebastian. I have to give it to Ashley. I didn’t think she could top the romance from “Novel Love Story”. But Ashley literally said, “hold my beer y’all”. From the very first page, I was hooked. Joni and Sebastian’s connection was so unique and unlike anything I’ve ever read before. For those that didn’t read the synopsis. Joni & Sebastian are tied together through a musical melody that only they can hear. And not just any melody, but one that is begging to be finished. They decide to work together to complete it. And throughout the journey their chemistry and banter explodes off the pages. I fell in love with both of them. Watching them overcome shared struggles while also pushing each other out of their comfort zones. It all felt so genuine and real.

By the end of this book guys I was in tears. To say this wrecked me is an understatement. But let me tell you it wrecked me in the best way. The emotional journey I went through reading this was worth it. If you can’t already tell I 100% recommend this book. Please check this book out when it releases June 17, 2025. “Sounds like Love” is a masterful journey of joy, hope, sorrow and magic. It’s not one to miss!

Lastly big Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I liked this one. More than her last book for sure. It's unique and it had good characters and and great chemistry but I think it's a me problem that I couldn't enjoy it fully? but it was a fun book. I loved the magical realism elements.

Ashley Poston does it again! A struggling songwriter, a mysterious “bad boy”, they’re in each others’ heads both literally and figuratively. This book is exactly what I needed to get out of my reading slump. While this contains the love story we all expect, it also focuses on family and the tense but ever-powerful relationship between mother and daughter. Love and loss. Letting go of fear.

I think if someone where to ask what book to start with if they were dipping a toe into the romance genre Ashley Poston would always be at the top of my list! After I read a Novel Love Story and became so obsessed, I didn't know if her next book would meet my high expectations, but I was so glad to be proven wrong! Poston has a beautiful way with words to describe love, all types of love, and all kinds of experiences and backgrounds. Joni and Sebasation's love story is sprinkled with humor, talent, magic, and beauty. More importantly, it is also a love story to creativity and more powerfully, to mothers. I finished it in one sitting and can't wait to reread my favorite parts just like I did with a Novel Love Story when I add it to my collection!

Thank you publishers and Net Galley, for the ARC!

I loved The Seven Year Slip so I was so excited to be approved for this one! I really enjoyed this. I loved the small town vibe, the musical aspect, and the family/friendship aspect. I wanted a bit more from the romance though but overall an enjoyable and fun read.

This author has done it again—Sounds Like Love was pure magic. This book was a breathtaking blend of romance, music, and fate, wrapped in the author's signature heartfelt and whimsical storytelling. From the very first page, I was completely swept up in Joni’s world, feeling every bit of her creative frustration, her longing for something more, and her deep-rooted love for the place she once called home.
Joni was such a beautifully complex character. As a wildly successful but currently blocked songwriter, she carried so much pressure on her shoulders, and returning to Vienna Shores only seemed to add to that weight. Her mother’s declining memory and the impending closure of The Revelry made my heart ache for her, and I loved how the setting—this nostalgic, seaside town steeped in music—became such an integral part of the story.
And then there was the inexplicable connection. The way Joni started hearing the voice of a stranger, someone who felt just as lost as she did, was nothing short of mesmerizing. The romance between Joni and the mysterious musician was slow-burn perfection—filled with tension, banter, and an undeniable pull that neither of them could fully understand. The duality of their connection (the sweet, almost dreamlike voice in her head vs. the very real, very guarded man who appears in town) was so well done. I loved watching them navigate their strange bond, trying to fight it while also clinging to the solace it provided.
And the music—oh, the music! The author wove lyrics and melodies into the story in a way that made it feel alive. The act of songwriting, of chasing inspiration, of finding meaning in the notes and words—it was all so vividly and beautifully captured.
If I could change anything, it would only be that I never wanted this book to end. The emotional depth, the touch of magic, the raw and real love story—it all came together in such a stunning way. Sounds Like Love was an unforgettable symphony of longing, healing, and finding your way back to yourself. Absolutely a must-read!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
4.75 stars

A beautiful contemporary romance with elements of magical realism that will make for a super fun summer read.

Putting aside the characters, the magical realism elements, and the overall storyline, my absolute favorite thing about this story was that the chapters have names (not just “1….2….3….etc.” They really frame the corresponding chapter beautifully & just adds another layer of care and thought from the author.

This work is nostalgic and heartbreaking and so beautifully deserved!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books (imprint of Penguin Random House) for an eARC of this titles in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable middle of the road read! Great chemistry between the characters and intriguing secondary storylines. Another solid Ashley Poston novel.

It felt so nice to be back in the world Ashley Poston has created! She writes love in the most whimsical and magical way, and this one was no different. I loved her take on telepathy and how it could shape a rom-com.

Sasha. Oh, Sasha. Protect this man at all costs. This was one of those romances where you know, without a shadow of a doubt, that these two are soulmates. They were complex and flawed, but they complimented and healed each other in a way that made them feel even more real.

This was a work of making a time in someone's life that is so dark and helpless and made it into a beautiful tribute to those who have lost loved ones too soon. Ashley handled this feat of emotion with so much grace and care that I think a lot of people will feel comforted by her words.

This was such an interesting premise! I haven't read a book like it, so I was excited. I just don't think Ashley Poston's books are my cup of tea. I really enjoyed Novel Love Story, but the other books I've read by her haven't been my favorite. I didn't love this one so much. I had a lot of questions that never really got answered, and I found that I couldn't suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy the story. I thought Joni's relationship with her mom was sweet and special, but most of her other relationships fell flat for me. Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for this ARC!

"I can weather storms, bird -- I want to weather them. With you. Besides you. So we don't have to do it alone."

I absolutely loved this! A magical & musical romance with elements of friendship, greif, love and so much more. Ashley has a way of writing about heavy topics, blending them in seamlessly amongst a love story and journey to self discovery, that makes the story feel magical. I eat it up every time! This book made me giggle, cry, and smile. I can't recommend it enough.

A few highlights:
•songwriter X musician
•magical realism
•telepathic connection
•music nostalgia
•slow burn romance

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Barkley for the ARC. My day was made when I saw the approval.

Hm... I'm underwhelmed. I was HYPED for this one, as I absolutely love Ashley Poston's writing (as does basically everyone else, let's be real). Not to mention, the music elements with her usual magical realism twist? It sounded so up my alley that it was sure to be 5 stars. Perhaps the hype I had in my head hindered my reading experience, as I don't feel like this quite lived up.

I want to preface with: This was not at all a bad book. Ashley Poston's writing is still a delight, and the magical realism she adds to her romances brings such a whimsical and unique twist to the story. I thought that the magic of literally being in each other's minds/able to hear each other's thoughts was a fun concept.

The music references (even down to themed chapter titles) were SUCH a highlight for me. I absolutely loved the nostalgia of it, and I hugely want to make a playlist for this book because I just know it'd be a bop from start to finish.

Unfortunately, to me everything else felt a little bit half-baked. I wasn't really sold on the romance because somehow it didn't feel like we got enough time to get to know them together. I wanted a bit more out of their mind-reading situation as well. That could've been such a recipe for some really adorable moments to make me giddy, and I didn't really think much of any of it at all. None of these moments stand out in my head whatsoever.

Additionally, we were introduced to a lot of different people, dynamics between family and friends, etc. but not quite enough to get attached. I basically feel like we got a small sampling of about a million different things in this book, but I needed us to really dive into something (preferably the romance, I guess?) in order for me to connect to it, and it remained pretty surface level from start to finish. I still don't really feel like I know anyone.

With that said: I also don't understand how the magic in this even works. This definitely didn't dive into the characters heavily, so IMO it needed a really banging plot. In order for that to happen, I need to understand how things work. How could they read each other's minds sometimes, but not others? The consistency was not there. This is sort of traditional Ashley Poston style (you never get a real explanation as to why the apartment can time travel in The Seven Year Slip for example--you kind of just have to suspend your disbelief a bit), however in the past we REALLY got to know the characters and spend a lot of time getting to know and understand them and what makes them tick. This didn't do either for me, so I just feel disconnected from the story overall.

I can't wait to hear others' thoughts on this one when it comes out. I know so many people love Ashley Poston and will read anything she writes (sameeee) so take this review with a grain of salt. I still think there's so much good in this story and it's worth the read!

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! This was such an exciting one to receive and I'm incredibly grateful. 💜

3.25 stars rounded down

Thank you so much NetGalley for providing me with this arc!! I feel utterly blessed to receive this 😭😭

Ok let’s hop in because the queen is back!! Ashley has done it again just utterly spoiling us in magical plot and characters that just make you feel so so much in so little time.

I’m obsessed with the magic in this one. Hearing each other’s thoughts???? What??? Ok, tension. Ok, banter. I see y’all. It was executed flawlessly. The way everything just unfolded was so twisty and turny and fun.

Also the couple’s first encounter being so messy was just *chefs kiss* because here I am like “omg are they even gonna fix this” which just was the perfect plot line to add. And the emotional touches and everything intertwined into that just left me teary eyed.

I would 100% recommend this!! I cannot wait to run to the bookstore on release day to get this (or maybe preorder depending on my bank account 🤭🤭).

Thank you so much again NetGalley and Berkley and Ashley Poston for allowing me an advanced copy of this!!

This book was a really sweet romance, perfect for a quick and enjoyable read. It captures those summer vibes effortlessly, blending the lightheartedness of a cute romance with an emotional plot full of nostalgia. I found it easy to get swept up in the story, and the pacing made it fly by. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the characters were much younger than they were supposed to be. For some reason, in my mind, they felt like they were 17, and their behavior didn’t quite match their supposed age. I’m not sure if it’s just me, but the way they acted didn’t align with being in their 30s, which was a bit off-putting for me.

Ashley Poston's romance novels are an interesting combination of romance, magical realism, and ruminations on grief. Romance is of course the device that moves the plot along, but the common thread that runs through all of her romances so far is how people deal with grief and failure (or fear of failure). Sounds Like Love is another wonderfully satisfying look at this topic, with two flawed but endearing leads.

Joni Lark is a songwriter in LA. She recently wrote a mega-hit, and her career seems destined for bigger and bigger things...except for the fact that her mother has been diagnosed with early onset dementia, and she hasn't been able to write a word since. As the story begins Joni is heading home to coastal North Carolina and her family's concert venue The Revelry, hoping she can both revisit her childhood and spend one last "good" summer with her mom. Of course Joni quickly learns that despite her idyllic and somewhat static view of home, home has changed without her input. Her best friend seems annoyed with her for unknown reasons, her parents seem to be ignoring the looming specter of dementia, and worst of all, they are planning to close The Revelry at the end of the summer. Oh, and Joni has also begun to hear a voice in her head, and an unfinished song that won't leave her (or the man in her head, who calls himself Sasha) alone.

Watching Joni slowly start to figure herself out is wonderfully satisfying, as she slowly unravels her past failures and heartbreaks, her fears for the future of her family, and her fear that maybe this career she worked so hard for isn't the thing she's supposed to be doing with her life. The relationship that develops between herself and Sasha (who is just as afraid and vulnerable) is rewarding and founded on common interests and experience. Woven through the entire story is the power of music to bring people together, and to ground our memories. Sounds Like Love is another stellar and very human romance from Ashley Poston, and a good entry point if you've never experienced her work before.