Nobody does magical realism romance like Ashley Poston. This book follows Joni, a songwriter, who's just had her first big hit, but has had massive writers block since her mother's dementia diagnosis. At an LA concert, she runs into Sebastian Fell, a former boy band sensation, with a famous rock star father, who has been in a music drought. The two have a tense meeting, and the following day, Joni escapes to her small hometown to be closer to her mom, for one last summer. Joni soon discovers that a melody is haunting her head, and there's a male voice stuck in her head (yes, this did instantly make me think of the iconic Camp Rock song "Gotta Find You"/"This is Me"). As the two start talking, they realize that meeting and finishing the song will be the key to getting their voices out of each other's head.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an early review copy.

this did not even feel like an ashley poston book. usually filled to the brim with annotations, this story felt lacking in the prose i’ve come to expect from her and i can tell this book came from a personal place, it just didn’t connect with me :(

i feel like the one of us is famous trope was also utilized to its capacity, especially with their telepathy (which was a bit corny i’m so sorry). i fear this was a case of excellent premise but less than execution…nonetheless this doesn’t dull my excitement for her next release 🫡

SOUNDS LIKE LOVE? More like SOUNDS LIKE ONE OF MY FAVORITE READS THIS YEAR. HELLO?!? Ashley’s writing style is absolutely my cup of tea. The way she crafts the stories and emotions of her characters into paper is just.. 🤌🏻. The Seven Year Slip is one of my favorite books, and this one was so lovely! It has all the charm and heart-wrenching moments we often see in Poston’s books. What a gift this was to be able to read early. I enjoyed every second of it!

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley publishing for giving me an early copy to review in exchange for my honest opinion 🫶🏻

I just absolutely loved this book. There is something so special about Ashley Poston’s books and her writing and I was so excited to get an arc of her new release 🥹

I am a sucker for a musician in a book/a celebrity/a famous person of any kind. I just eat it up so I absolutely loved that in this book. I loved learning about Sebastian and the way he feels about being famous and the way Joni was there for him and someone he could trust 🥲 The softness and vulnerability they found w each other was just beautiful!!!

I loved the way they wrote music together and the connection they had. The magical realism was done so well in this book (as always in her books) and was so fun (and bittersweet) to see play out. Ashley Poston’s writing is just incredible as well. It’s so lyrical and there were so many quotes I highlighted. I loved the metaphors with music in this as well.

The family dynamics in this was also just so beautiful and heartfelt!

Poston does it again and I will read anything she writes!

Thank you Berkley romance and NetGalley for the arc!!!

In this book, you have a hitmaking songwriter (Joni) and a bitter musician who make beautiful music together. Another win for Ashley Poston and I loved the two mcs in this book. A must read!

The writing is utterly magical and written so lyrically at times that it really draws you into the world of those who create music as an art form. The banter between Joni and her Sasha is excellent, I adore when it is very clear that one of them is falling faster than the other from just the way they flirt while arguing. He definitely falls first, but he's respectful of her choices and her boundaries. I love the magical realism of them being in each others' heads, the little offhand asides from their thoughts about one another that they'd never say out loud but now they both can still hear them. This one caught me off guard. It has so much to say about how we process our own fears for the future, regrets from the past, and grief for those that are gone, but also that grief that you experience when you are slowly losing someone too. I love Joni's family and friends, they are supportive, eccentric, and so humorous. Honestly, the humor often helps to break up the parts where I was actually crying.

Joni Lark has a secret—one that threatens the very essence of who she is. Once a celebrated songwriter, she’s lost the ability to create. Returning to her small coastal hometown of Vienna Shores, North Carolina, she hopes to find inspiration in the familiar comforts of her family’s music venue, The Revelry. But life isn’t as she left it. Relationships are fractured, her mother’s memories are fading, and The Revelry is on the verge of shutting down. Just as Joni starts to believe her songwriting days are over, she hears it—a haunting melody, drifting into her mind from a voice she’s never heard before.

With a premise as enchanting as a song you can’t quite place, this novel is a stunning exploration of creativity, connection, and the power of music to heal. Joni’s journey is both deeply personal and universally relatable—who hasn’t felt lost at some point, searching for a spark to reignite their passion? The telepathic bond between Joni and the enigmatic musician is beautifully crafted, adding a layer of mystery and magic to their reluctant partnership. Their chemistry crackles, evolving from skepticism to something undeniable as they work to complete the song that links them.

At its heart, this book is more than a romance—it’s a tribute to the way music shapes us, the bittersweet pull of nostalgia, and the courage it takes to move forward when the past feels impossible to let go. With evocative prose and characters that linger long after the last page, this story will resonate with anyone who has ever felt the ache of change, the longing for connection, or the undeniable pull of a melody waiting to be written.

An absolute must-read for fans of heartfelt fiction, slow-burn romance, and the transformative magic of music.

The touch of magic Ashley Poston builds into her books always leaves me with a warm fuzzy feeling, and this latest book was no different

Sounds Like Love had all the makings of a story I should have loved, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite land for me. Unlike The Seven Year Slip<, which left a lasting emotional impact, this one didn’t evoke the same depth of feeling. I never fully fell in love with either of the main characters, and the side characters felt more frustrating than enriching to the story.

While there were moments I appreciated, overall, it wasn’t a favorite for me. I’m still gathering my thoughts, but I had hoped for more.

‘Sounds Like Love’ by Ashley Poston is the MOST romantic and BEAUTIFUL story I’ve ever read by her! I’ve already given all her books 5 stars and this book was not any less than that🥹

This book is a perfect blend of sweet, steamy tension with equal measure of moments that will have you laughing out loud and giggling and kicking your feet like crazy.

I mean, it’s a book with a gorgeous, tortured musician who might just hold the key to the FMC creative block ? Who wouldn’t want that?

The chemistry between Joni and this guy is ELECTRIC. My heart was on fire🔥. The banter? Chefs kiss. It was sharp enough in fact to cut through WOOD. It's the kind of book that makes you want to jump in and rewrite your own romantic playlist.

I could not stop reading. Ashley Poston once again served whimsical, romantic storytelling, with beautifully angst, heartfelt romance. I’m never getting over this.

Ashley Poston is a poet who weaves words together with remarkable honesty and beauty. Her books provide a space to confront and examine your innermost thoughts—at least, that’s how I feel. In addition to this profound introspection, she offers readers a captivating story filled with characters who are perfectly matched for one another. These characters embrace growth and change, making the journey all the more enjoyable.

This story revolves around two main characters who find themselves in a unique situation after an unexpected kiss, which grants them the ability to hear each other's innermost thoughts. Their initial reaction is to find a way to reverse this dilemma, but they soon discover the incredible privilege it can offer.
Ashley has hit it out of the park once again, leaving me utterly captivated and obsessed.

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the free ARC of this book!

Here’s the thing about an Ashley Poston novel: you are guaranteed magic and whimsy. And it keeps me coming back time and time again!

Sounds Like Love was no exception. Full of whimsy, it felt like a warm hug and had me all in my feels. It is a love song to music and the ways it makes us feel and gets us through tough times. The way it causes us to relive the simple, everyday magical moments and our connections to the people we love.

It was also incredibly relatable in the characters feeling burnt out and chasing dreams and searching for a place for their soul to call home. I felt that to my core.

I thought this book tackles dementia and what it’s like to watch someone you love grapple with this illness in a raw yet beautiful way.

Other things I loved about Sounds Like Love:
* So many Labyrinth references!!
* Lark and Gigi’s relationship reminded me of me and my best friend. I was constantly texting her quotes from the book saying “this is so us.”
* Marge 🚤🍹 (IYKYK)
* The coffee shop’s drink names

Another wonderful Ashley Poston book!

Ah. Reading this was a time for me. There were so many moments that I was excited for the prospect of the romance, & then so many moments when I was sort of disappointed that it was falling flat. But. The star of this show? The story itself & the writing. Truly it is pushing this from being a 3 star to a 4 for me.

Joni Lark is an acclaimed songwriter in LA who has chased her dreams and is making it big with a hit single. Only now, once she has heard her mother’s dementia diagnosis, does she find she cannot write songs anymore. Then, by some type of fate, magic or coincidence, Joni runs into the infamous musician Sebastian Fell. When they meet, the impossible happens, & the two somehow end up with a telepathic connection that binds their paths together. & what, of course, would two attractive people in music who can read each other’s thoughts do together? They would write a song together. That, & fall in love.

I wanted with everything in me to love this romance. I know that Ashley Poston is a reylo, & so the idea of a force bond type romance TICKLED ME. But I think the romance was a little dull here. I think there was so much STORY happening that the chemistry fell a little bit to the wayside. BUT THAT STORY. Did it break my heart or what? As a girl who romanticizes her family & loves them dearly, this story felt like a jagged knife to the heart. Joni’s relationship with her mom & watching her & her family process her mother’s diagnosis was so well done. Those were the most beautiful bits in the story & literally had me breaking down. I’m just a sucker for family & for mother/daughter relationships. Long may they warm my heart.

Thanks so much to NetGalley & Berkley for this e-arc!

This book might be my favorite Ashley Poston book so far. It made me so happy and so sad all in the same moments. I cried with joy and sadness at so many scenes. Sasha and Bird are such wonderful characters and seeing their struggles were very human made me love them that much more. I can’t wait for everyone to get to read this amazing story!

"𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦." 

I am now thumbs up for 3 of 4 Ashley Poston books.  I set aside 𝘈 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, but throughly enjoyed 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘱, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 and now 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 (PUB 06.10) Thank you to 

Blurb: "𝘈 𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦""
In words:

Fresh.
Lyricist & Musician.
Going home
Grief - past and impending.
Get out of my head- literally.
Magical realism.
Unrivaled.
Hopeful.
Lovely.
Big Hearted.
Unique.
Sweet.
Career crossroads.
Emotional.
Hopelessly romantic.
Shared Struggles.
Earnest Support.
Sparkling.
Door-ajar.

Ashley Poston is one of my all-time favorite romance authors, and no one does magical realism quite like her. There’s always something so special about her stories—the way they blend heartache, hope, and just a touch of the impossible. I was beyond excited to get read this book and it did not disappoint.

From the very first page, I was hooked. Joni and Sebastian’s connection is unlike anything I’ve read before—two strangers tied together by a melody only they can hear. It’s such a beautiful concept, and the way their relationship unfolds is just so emotional. Their chemistry, their shared struggles, the way they push and comfort each other—it all felt so real. I especially loved the way songwriting and music played such a big role in their story. The pressure to create, the weight of expectations, the love of live music—it all hit hard in the best way.

Sebastian’s struggles with fame and Joni’s search for inspiration made for such a powerful dynamic. The softness they found in each other, the way they just got each other, was so touching. And the magical realism was perfect—subtle, haunting, and just enough to make you believe in something bigger than coincidence.

By the end, I was wrecked in the best way. This book made me feel—joy, sorrow, hope, and everything in between. While it has some familiar themes from Poston’s other books, it still felt fresh, unique, and deeply moving. A beautiful, bittersweet read that will stick with me for a long time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sounds like Love was definitely an improvement from A Novel Love Story. I love books about musicians and magical realism. This was a heartfelt novel, but I did struggle to connect with the novel half way through and took a break. The ending redeemed the middle part that was missing some magic. I loved the humor of the partners. It reminded me a lot of the parents in the movie Easy A. Joni’s mother had dementia, and that was heartbreaking, but the humor between the parents really helped ease the sadness. The ending seemed a bit rushed about the mom’s decline.

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an *honest* review. I’d like to start off with: The Seven Year Slip is one of my favorite books. I loved A Novel Love Story as well.

HOWEVER, Sounds Like Love felt completely AI-generated. This felt like the *concept* of a story, not a fully fleshed out book. All of the characters are painfully, achingly one-dimensional. Poston tried so hard to give the FMC, Joni, a personality, but the circumstances surrounding her (her mother’s illness, her family’s business being sold, her brother and her best friend’s relationship, etc) REALLY outshined her as a solitary character. I knew more about the random happenings in her life than I knew about her as a person. The MMC also has no personality other than he’s the ultimate nice guy with daddy issues. I knew more about his dad than I knew about him. Also, you’d think the author would at least put together a few lyrics for a song in the book, especially since that’s the whole point of the book, but it was more like “They wrote a song. It was cute and touching. TRUST ME.” The “magical realism” aspect was absolutely ridiculous, confusing, and inconsistent. I found myself cringing at how silly and immature it was. Lastly, the “twist” was so ill-fitting… The “awwww” moment that I was expecting was more like a face-palm. It had me saying “Wait… What? How did that even make sense?”

I’m sorry that I can’t give a better review. I was so excited to receive an early copy and I truly wanted to love it, but this didn’t feel like an Ashley Poston book at all.

Ashley Poston does it again! *Sounds Like Love* is a charming, seemingly simple story with a magical twist that makes you fall in love—not just with the characters, but with life itself. This time, Poston crafts an ode to music and summers spent on the beach, capturing the nostalgia of salt in your hair, sticky fingers from popsicles, and ocean waves crashing in the background.

Her vivid yet effortlessly evocative prose brings the story to life: *"A lightning strike that filled my veins with Pop Rocks."* Moments like these make the book feel electric, pulling you into its warm, sun-drenched world.

It’s not just a beach read though. At its heart, this is a story about change—how we navigate it, resist it, and if we can accept it. Joni's return home to the Outer Banks forces her to confront the weight of unspoken words and process how some things will never be the same again. As she grapples with the reality of what life home is now, the novel explores themes of identity, grief (see trigger warnings), and the ever-present question: Is the life we've built still the one we want? With a touch of magic—both in music and in the unexpected presence of a stranger’s voice in Joni’s head—Ashley Poston crafts a poignant, heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery.

I’m grateful to have received an ARC and read this early, but its June release is perfect—it’s the kind of book that begs to be read with sand between your toes and a playlist of summer anthems in the background. A must-read for fans of heartfelt and impactful, hopeful storytelling.

There's so much that I loved about this book - Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston is a heartfelt contemporary romance that does a really beautiful job of mixing magical realism with heartfelt and emotional themes. Our story follows Joni, a songwriter struggling with writer’s block while coping with her mother’s dementia diagnosis. Even though it has swoon-worthy romance, the heart of the story is about Joni’s relationship with her mother, the impact of her illness, and the fear of losing someone you love. How scary that change and loss can be.

Joni meets Sebastian Fell, a former boy band member, and they form a magical connection where they can hear each other’s thoughts across the country. They are both haunted by a melody and have to finish the song to escape each other’s minds. The magical realism in this book is my favorite part of reading an Ashley Poston story. Her books are always so charming and magical.

While I loved the book’s emotional depth, there were moments where the dialogue felt a little corny, especially in interactions with Joni’s family and friends. Sometimes it felt a little too theatrical for my liking. Additionally, the third-act breakup didn’t land as strongly as intended - it was really quick, barely lasted a chapter so there weren't really any emotional stakes. I would have preferred the story to explore the challenges of navigating their new relationship without the connection of hearing each other’s thoughts, instead.

Ultimately, Sounds Like Love is a beautiful, touching story that literally had me in tears at the end. Ashley Poston is such a special author - her blend of magic, love, and loss makes for a really special read, and I’ll always be a fan of her work. Auto-buy author for me!!