I sat on this one for a few days after finishing because I wasn’t sure how to feel…

Although the first half of the book had me pretty intrigued, I felt this book fell completely flat. With the whole concept of being able to hear each other’s thoughts, I really thought they’d form a deep, meaningful relationship. But somehow the characters & their relationship never had much development. These characters felt FLAT. We honestly got more of her best friend & brother than we did her. Even the parents had more personality.

At multiple points, I asked myself if AI wrote this because it didn’t feel like Ashley Poston at all, & also seemed like it was written by multiple different people.

I know she did a lot of research into the music industry for this one, & I fear maybe she focused too much on those logistics vs forming characters & a plot that made sense // went beyond surface level.

The nickname SASHA for Sebastian honestly gave me the biggest ick. What WAS THAT?

I thought the family aspect was the only redeemable quality here. Between her mom’s early onset dementia, her parents undying love & playful marriage, the best friend being with her brother, & the eclectic uncle— I was invested.

I just wish that the two main characters brought more to the story, rather than weak emotional connection & cringe-worthy miscommunication the second they weren’t in each other’s thoughts.

It was A LOT of build up to get to this finished song & the plot DRAGGED ON FOREVER with it. Just for it to be barely a big deal & thrown in at the end of the book.

Disappointed for sure.
I fear The Seven Year Slip feeling will never be recreated, but this is easily my least favorite from her.

If there’s one thing I know for certain, I know that when I pick up a Ashley Poston book I’m going to have a good time but also probably cry and that was just as true with Sounds Like Love and it was with her other books.

This book started off a little rough for me, I’m not going to lie but once our MC got back to her hometown, I got so much more invested in the story and the characters.

This book will make you laugh, but it will also break your heart.

I always enjoy reading any of Ashley Poston's books. She just knows how to write emotional romance books. And Ashley knows how to write about grief so well that it always tears me up.

I will say that this book is a bit different from her usual emotional romance books. It's a tad slower pace that you don't feel the deeper feeling between the characters. It's not a bad thing. It's just not what you expect that throws you off a bit, but that's why I am letting you know now. You have been warned so it won't throw you off, and you will actually enjoy the story. It's mainly Joni's journey about what she truly wants in her. It's something we all go through at one point or another.

I'm not usually a fan of magical realism, but I make an exception for Ashley Poston every time and this one might be my favourite yet. I loved the beachy setting and the songwriting efforts. I want to know what happens to Gigi next!

A HUGE THANK YOU to the author and Berkley Pub for the gifted ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts! 💗

I don’t know what to say...

It’s as if all my words were taken away; I wanted to convey the thoughts and feelings just like the main characters.

I could write about the style, the plot, the characters, and how you really need to read this book.

But honestly, this book made me laugh and smile through the first half, and by the end, I was in tears because I took everything to heart.

I am emotional, and I said no more books with the trope of losing a loved one, but I see Ashley's books, and I don’t care what the content is...

This book is more romantic, with a strong theme of music and, as always, the search for oneself.

"Who are you and who are you destined to be?"

That’s the main theme.

And now should I talk about the characters?
Sasha's voice: "Breathe."

They were lovely, their interactions and moments were heartwarming—I love them!
I also liked the FMC's parents.

It was atmospheric, pleasant, comfortable, and painful all at once!

There aren’t enough words, not enough ways to describe my feelings for this book, as everyone has their own unique experience...

Ashley Poston has done it yet again. Sasha and Joni are some of the most complex characters she's written by far. The way this novel deals with preemptive grieving is phenomenal, I cried quite a few tears. Definitely in my top three Ashley Poston books. (Also, I'm not normally a man bun girly...but this one....)

4.5 Stars

Okay, I loved this one a lot more than A Novel Love Story. Nothing will top The Seven Year Slip, but this came pretty close

This book was so sweet, but also had some emotional moments. The way that Ashley Poston writes about grief, makes it feel so real. I loved the story and the magical realism within it. The characters were likable and I loved Joni's parents. It wasn't too incredibly dramatic and I couldn't put it down once I started. I did predict the "twist" towards the end but this was still a really enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group.

I am a die-hard Ashley Poston reader, ever since The Dead Romantics. I am devastated to say that Sounds Like a Love Story fell flat for me. I could tell that Poston put so much emotion and love into this story, but I think it was churned out too fast. The writing needs more editing and the story needs a bit more guidance. I loved all of the elements: the setting, the romance, the family, the friends, yet it all felt disjointed. I will still recommend this book to fellow romance readers & patrons, but it, sadly, was not my favorite.

4.5⭐️
this was so so wonderful - i ended up finishing this in literally one sitting last night and i haven't stopped thinking about it since. this is so quintessential ashley poston at her best; such a gorgeous romance in a really homey and cosy setting with a super fun magical realism plot running throughout!! read this if you want a strong female lead, lots of discussion about home and family, lots of tal about music and how that brings people together, a wonderful male lead who's super down bad, a fun magical-realism thread and an overall wonderfully crafted and cosy book🤍

Absolutely loved this book! Ashley Poston is one of my favourite authors and the magical realism always hits!!! This was such a sweet story!

Thank you Berkley for the advanced copy!

This author is one of my favorites! And this book did not disappoint I loved the music aspect of it so much! This is my new favorite story from this author (which says a lot!)

I don't know who gave Ashley Poston the AUDACITY to write such an incredible book but I would like to thank them.

Sounds Like Love feels like Poston's victory lap. It's complex, deep, sad, but also filled with hope, joy, and so much love. I wanted to read it slow enough to savor every beautifully written sentence, but I couldn't slow myself down because the way this plot kept me going was feral. It's the perfect sprinkle of magic to create a fascinating scenario but not so much that I had to fight my brain to completely suspend reality. I am truly obsessed with it, it might even rival my love for Seven Year Slip which is saying something for me because that is one of my all time favorite books!

Everyone should be running full speed to their nearest retailer to buy every single version of this book on release day!!!

I’m not sure Poston will ever write anything I don’t love. This was such a lovely story filled with emotion but also fun and sweet and the fantastical / magical aspect totally worked!

Thank you for the early copy for my review

ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || SOUNDS LIKE LOVE [thank you to Berkley Romance and @netgalley for my #gifted copy!]

Title: Sounds Like Love
Author: Ashley Poston
Genre: Romance
Format: Digital
Star Rating: ★★★★★

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:
Joni Lark is a hit songwriter—until the words stop coming. Hoping to find inspiration, she returns home to Vienna Shores, only to find her best friend distant, her mother’s memory fading, and her family’s music venue on the brink of closing.

Then, she hears it—a haunting melody tied to a voice that isn’t hers. That voice belongs to a gruff, aggravating musician with his own demons, and he has a plan: finish the song, break their strange connection, and move on.

But as the music pulls them closer, Joni starts to wonder—what if the song that won’t let them go is trying to tell them something?

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
I was starting to give up hope that I’d find a novel by Poston that I loved as much as SEVEN YEAR SLIP — and I’m thankful to say that I’ve found it in SOUNDS LIKE LOVE.

This book is so fun - I laughed out loud several times - as well as being emotional and heartbreaking (and heartwarming). It’s about trying to see yourself in a new light and living every day as well as you can. It’s about the endurance of love and just how much believing in yourself can achieve.

The romance here really is just top notch. From the secret conversations to being there for each other in times of need to just falling in love - couldn’t get enough.

I will be recommending this book to everyone I know. You need it in your life - just trust me.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Celebrity Romance
Seven Year Slip
Magical Realism
Enemies-to-Lovers
Books about Family

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 4.28
# of Pages: 384
Pub Date: June 17, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

I love Ashley Poston so much, y’all. Her writing is *magical* and makes me feel all the things.

This book was no exception. I am obsessed. I can already tell that this one is going to stick with me for a LONG time.

The premise: Joni and Sasha both have (part of) a song stuck in their heads— and each other. They have a telepathic connection and to break the connection they need to finish the song.

The way the story unfolded was beautiful. I love Joni and Sasha so much. The way the being inside each other’s heads built up the intimacy was perfect. The slow burn of it all had me giggling and kicking my feet.

The supporting cast of characters was also fantastic. I loved Joni’s relationship with Gigi and her mom.

CW: Dementia/Loss of Parent. As someone who lost their grandmother to dementia this year, it hurt to read some parts, but in a good way. Ashley Poston handles grief and loss in such a deft way in all of her books, so it should come as no surprise that it was beautifully handled— but just something to be aware of going in.

Read if you like:
- Magical Realism
- Songwriter x Musician
- He Falls First
- Telepathy
- Family Drama

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the ARC!

From the moment I started this book, I knew I was in for a one-sitting, five-star read. Joni and Sebastian had me hooked from their very first scene—their chemistry? Their connection? Absolutely electric.

No one does magical realism like Ashley Poston, and this book was pure, heart-stealing magic. Some books are good, but once in a blue moon, you find one that completely absorbs you—where you don’t just read the story, you want to live in it. That’s what this book did. I felt like I was right there in Vienna Shores, swaying to the music at The Revelry, completely swept up in Joni and Sebastian’s world.

A songwriter and a musician forced to write a song together to break their telepathic connection? Talk about a brilliant premise. And the music nostalgia? Perfection. The song lyrics at the start of each chapter had me singing along to childhood favorites, making this book feel like a love letter to music itself—the way it heals, connects, and carries us through life’s hardest moments. Joni and Sebastian were both at a crossroads, struggling personally and professionally, and the way they helped each other through it all was beautiful.

And that nickname?! Sebastian calling Joni bird—like a songbird—absolutely melted me. Add in a cameo from IWAN (one of my all-time favorite book boyfriends!), and this book was everything I wanted and more. Whimsical, magical, and deeply romantic—I cannot wait for y’all to get your hands on this one!

Ashley Poston continues to pull on the heart strings with this one. 🥺

The effortless way she always incorporates magical realism makes these books what they are. The idea that two strangers come together and are able to hear each other's thoughts was something I was skeptical about in the beginning. But as it went on, I became hooked. The setting, the ties of music, and the characters made this a book you'd expect from Ashley Poston if you've loved her other work.

What I love the most is while yes this is truly a romance with swoony characters, but it's also about finding what brings you joy, family, and the real struggles of families with Alzheimer's and loss. Overall, I loved this 🤌🏼

♾️ ashley poston, you’ve stolen my breath yet again <3

one thing i adore about her books is that you’re not just getting a romance out of the deal when you pick up one of her books…i truly feel like they read like a love letter to the reader.

if i had to write a guide for how to read the ashley poston-verse, it would be to approach her books less like romance and more like women’s literature. i genuinely think readers would get so much more out of her storytelling if this was the mindset going in. i know a novel love story got a lot of mixed reviews because the romance didn’t seem as prevalent, but i went into it really open minded and it became my favorite book from her. sounds like love is now my second :’)

these characters were a really unique addition to the world of ashley poston’s universe. while certain elements such as fame and their Hollywood centric careers made them slightly different in the relatable context, their emotional complexity was so raw & real, the way they navigated the human experience so tangible, i was surprised with how deeply i resonated with how these characters were feeling throughout their journey.

in true ashpos style, we have her trademark of magical realism woven throughout. i do think this element took more of a backseat in comparison to her others books as the “magic” isn’t extremely developed or explained and more so just…there but i was so enchanted by the power of the story, that i didn’t even mind at all.

grief is also a theme commonly explored in this author’s books and sounds like love is no different. the writing approaches this with so much grace and intention, it softens the blows of some of the heavier emotional punches, although you will probably need tissues though as the cry count for me (a historically stoic reader) was two :’)

*spoiler warnings in the content warnings below*

content warnings:
— parental dementia is a common theme referenced throughout the book with the eventual passing of the parent (fmc’s mom).
— mmc deals with parental neglect from his father
— mmc has previous alcohol addiction (off page but mentioned throughout)

thank you so much to the author and to berkley pub for the gifted arc in exchange for my honest thoughts 💌

ashley poston does such an amazing job with adding magical realism elements into romance books and this was no different. the writing style as always is very beautiful, poetic and magical. the musical route was really cool and different as well. this story also talks heavily on grief. joni and sebastian have this telepathic communication and they can hear each others thoughts in their mind and I thought that was so cool and really helped them get to know each other on a deeper level. it was slow in the beginning but really started picking up at the halfway point. I thought this was cute and would definitely recommend! also - the iwan & clementine cameos were everything I was not expecting that and it had me so excited!!!

thank you berkley and netgalley for the e-arc

I am a huge fan of AP already, and every book of her's is more magical than the last. Always a beautiful mix of the unexplained and reality, with an understanding that magic can't fix everything, but it can certainly lead you to love.