4.5 stars

Kate Golden has a way with words. In "If Not for My Baby," she weaves those beautiful words into a classic romance. Clementine and Tom's love story is like planets circling each other, until the day they decide to stop fighting and collide. This process is a beautiful torture to read, and I could not put this book down. Rockstar romance with some deeply layered characters thrown in.

Clems love and devotion to her mother and her illness was sweet to read at first, but as we dive deeper you see how this relationship is holding Celemetine back is every aspect of her life. This final realization by Clems mom brought me to tears.

Tom and Clems love story weaved through American backroads and live on a tour bus. Filled with longing looks and zero privacy, which leads to a lot of longing.

This is my third book by Kate Golden, and she does not disappoint.

Thank you, Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for this ARC for an honest review.

it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed in this type of book. It was so well written in the romance element that I was wanting and enjoyed in this type of book. The characters were so well done and was invested in what was happening to them, it uses the rock star element perfectly and am excited for more. Kate Golden was able to write a strong book and was glad I got to read this.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I wasn't sure quite what to expect, I'd read Kate Golden's Sacred Stones series and was so curious as to how I would like a romance book from her.

What I Liked: the writing, especially when talking about music, felt almost sumptuous. I felt like there was just this raw and visceral love for this craft that really came through every time Clementine and Tome would talk about music and how it can make people feel different things. I really liked the progression and pacing of their relationship, it felt natural to me in this very chaotic and crazy environment. I loved most of the members of the band - they had a lot of personality without being distracting and it was fun to watch them all become friends. The ending was really sweet and I loved where all the characters ended up.

What I Didn't Like: I had a hard time with Clementine's mom. I appreciated that they had a good conversation about their relationship at the end of the book, but it was difficult at times to like her when Clementine would remember all that she had to do to help her mom after a bad break up and the domino effects that could then have on her health. Additionally, the pacing in the middle was a little show - nothing too terrible but it got a tiny bit repetitive with all the cities and shows they were doing. Also, I hate Jen.

In this end, this was super cute and I'm really happy I read it. I'd recommend this one to anyone looking for a hot rock star romance. Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC - all opinions are my own!

thank you berkley for the arc!

3.75/5
this is such a sweet book! perfect for the type of person who adores musicals, music and a certain irish singer-songwriter. the descriptions of the MCs (especially tom) were very repetitive which was honestly pretty annoying but i truly can't help but enjoy this book. and i do not see enough people talking about clem's love of musicals, it was so cute! how could you not love that? and it did make me a little teary-eyed, so be warned it will tug at your heartstrings! if you are looking for something bright and summery and love a roadtrip, this one's for you!

I read and loved The Sacred Stones trilogy, so when I got a chance to read this one early I was super stoked. Rockstar romances have always been ones that I have enjoyed and this was no exception. This book is passionate and sensual, but was written in such a lyrical way. The MMC made me swoon and was a character I loved so much and related to. He’s such a sweetheart and found it easy to like him. The journey the FMC took was beautiful. I loved seeing her grow out of her comfort zone and come into herself towards the end. However It took me a little bit to warm up to her. Overall I think this is a fun, easy read. Not only do you get a love story, but it was a story of friendship and finding oneself as well.
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for giving me the chance to read this early.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I think I read a different book than everyone else 🤔

There are so many great reviews for this book, and I really enjoyed Kate's romantasy series, so I was pretty pumped for this one. But I had such a hard time with it.

I'll start by saying Tom is such a sweetheart. I loved his character and the contrast he provided to the rest of the group.

But Clementine...oof. There were times I enjoyed her but I couldn't get past how selfish she could be. And it wasn't in a particularly mean way, more oblivious. That's not to say that she wasn't kind and empathetic with others, but I didn't like how she handled both relationships you see her in and other times where she pushes Tom out of his comfort zone "for her." This guy is like the introvertiest introvert, and she doesn't waste much time trying to change that.

And not a fan of the ending. Another break up because of outside forces and no one bothers to communicate.

But so many people devoured this book so I wouldn't not recommend for romance readers ❤️

The first half of If Not For My Baby really sucked me in. I loved the insight into life as part of a touring rock group and a seeing part of the cutthroat popular music world. I love talented, competent characters who maybe have some baggage but don’t let that keep them from doing what they do well. I love supporting characters who are more than just cardboard placeholders in the narrative. And I enjoy first person narratives that help me see the world through a lens that is not my own. Kate Golden delivered on all that. My only criticisms are that the story went on a little too long and that I got impatient with the MC who couldn’t seem to get out of her own way enough to read the room regarding her relationship with the MMC. Over all? I loved this book!

Absolutely adorable. Clementine is cynical goofball, learning how to stand up for herself and figuring out how to go for what she wants in life. Tom is…well…HOT. Irish, tall, emotionally in touch, gah I want one of my own, please. So much growth and found family in this story. Coincidently I read this book while traveling through Ireland, which helped greatly with Irish accents in my head. Very cute, easy and emotional read!

Thanks you Net Galley for the ARC.

Clementine Clark has always put others' needs before her own. Between working and caring for her sick mother, Clementine doesn't have time for a relationship. She also doesn't believe in love after seeing the toll it took on her mom growing up. When Clementine gets the opportunity to work as a backing vocalist for Halloran, a popular Irish singer on his first US tour, she initially wants to refuse. Still, the money is enough to change her and her mom's lives. Clementine is instantly swept up in the whirlwind of touring and performing in front of thousands each night, but nothing compares to the feelings she gets when she's around Tom Halloran. The two couldn't be more different when it comes to viewing relationships, but the chemistry between them is undeniable. Clementine has always kept her heart closed, but with every stolen glance and passionate lyric, she's starting to change her tune.

The moment I heard the MMC was based on Hozier, I knew I needed to read this, but I was worried it would read too much like fanfiction and it did. I still enjoyed it, but I was expecting to be obsessed. It all came down to the characters for me. Since I love the person he's based on, I figured I would be obsessed with Halloran's character. He was tender and intelligent, exactly like how you'd picture Hozier to be, but I wanted him to feel more like a real person and less like a construct. Clementine also bothered me. I felt she lacked maturity and her jaded outlook got old fast. Something about the romance didn't work for me either. I never felt an emotional connection between them and thought it was all surface-level. Golden's writing was easy to fly through making it a quick read, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc.
This was a nice break from all the dark and intense books I have been reading lately! Clementine is just like most of us with a dream but life gets in the way of following that dream sometimes. We get stuck in our lives and it’s hard to look elsewhere in what we really want. Is it adventure? love? Found family? Maybe all of the above.

If Not For My Baby lets dreamers dream and lovers love.
Though the main character got a little annoying at times, she seemed to jump to too many conclusions, this book was hopeful and I enjoyed reading it.

This was cute, but I don’t think rockstar romances are ever fully gonna be my thing :(

What I did really enjoy was the dynamic between Clem and Halloran, their connection felt intense but also soft in a way that’s hard to explain, and I loved how he constantly called her out without ever crossing the line. They had this mix of banter, tension, and emotional depth that worked really well. That said, the romance moved way too fast for me. I love a gone man as much as anyone, but I needed more build-up, more tension before the full-on pining kicked in. It didn’t fully hit the way I hoped. Still, I liked how genuine Clem felt! Messy, funny, and figuring things out. Definitely had some fun moments, just didn’t quite sweep me off my feet.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I read a lot-well over 100 books a year. But only a handful turn into something all-consuming, where I fall asleep thinking about the story, and again immediately when I wake up. When I’ve finished it I know the characters have carved a place in my brain and they’ll stay with me forever. This is one of those.

If Not For My Baby was so beautiful, and soooo so unbearably sexy. Tom was the tortured poet musician of my dreams, and Clementine was the perfect opposite to his calm restraint. She is so incredibly funny, and her growth was magical. AND THE TENSION OMGGG! I grinned wildly, swooned, laughed, and just absolutely enjoyed every word. An easy giant 5 stars ✨

Hozier will never be the same to me. I enjoyed this book from start to finish! I love that we dived into the main plot so quickly and got to feel like we were a part of the band while they toured! I felt like I was at the shows and witnessing all of the emotions that come with song lyrics and performing. Our main characters were CHEFS KISS and our side characters only enhanced the story.

3.5 rounded up ⭐️

Thank you to Berkley Romance & netgalley for the eARC!!

I'm so happy rockstar inspired romances are becoming a thing! I think If Not For My Baby had such a fun concept, I love all things music/pop culture so I really enjoyed that aspect of the book! I thought that our MMC, Tom was sooo swoon worthy. I loved the chemistry between him and Clementine!!! I also really loved all of the authors song lyrics in this book! I thought they were beautiful and really captured the vibe of the story!

Definitely recommend especially if you are looking for a sweet rockstar romance with the swooniest mmc!!!

Clementine is stuck in a small town, caring for her mom with fibromyalgia, but she is a great singer. Things happen, and she gets to be a backup singer for Halloran's new tour, who is basically Hozier. It turns out that her voice is the perfect match to harmonize with Halloran, and their chemistry singing together continues off the stage.

Super cute, loved Halloran and his introverted superstar self. Chemistry really was there, perfect levels of spice!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts.

Clementine is an aspiring musical talent who has been dealt a difficult hand in life. She feels music so deeply and always feels most like herself when performing. When faced with sticking by family or taking a leap of faith, Clementine always chooses to devote her time to others, only allowing herself glimpses into a life she really wants. Clementine is also not interested in putting herself out there, believing love is not for her. Why not save yourself the inevitable heartbreak, right? When an opportunity arrives to join as a backup singer for music sensation, Halloran, Clementine makes the decision to put herself out there and enjoy something for herself. During her time on the road, Clementine explores herself, her needs and what a growing attraction would mean for the life that she currently lives. Perhaps her emotional connection to music isn’t the only way she can experience such a feeling.

I connected with Clementine a lot on a few aspects of her life. I love the depiction of how music can evoke so many emotions and really allow people to express how they feel. Tom is a super sweet and lovable. A practical man who loves making music and sharing it with the world. He may have also had some demons, but he overcame them and found a new purpose in life. His journey out of the dark was just as inspiring as Clementine’s journey giving herself the opportunity to accept love and allowing herself the to love. The connection between the main characters is so organic and heart felt, and the way they respect each other is extremely wonderful to see. I loved how there was not too many setbacks, but rather two people being themselves with another person.

Favorite quotes:
“I can’t promise you a life free of sorrow. Nobody can. But I can swear to shelter the heart of ye with all I have”

“To be loved is to be known-the worst of you, the best of you.”

4.5 Stars

There’s a lot of rockstar romance out there, but this here is a soulful musician romance, and I fear I am thoroughly charmed. I had a dopey lil grin or a dramatic swoon on the whole time I was reading this book and I absolutely inhaled the endorphins I was being dosed via text. I didn’t realize a gooey romance between a romance skeptic FMC and a hopelessly romantic cinnamon roll of a heartthrob poet could hit that hard, but I’m glad I trusted my instincts about this specific book. Kate Golden I wasn’t familiar with your game but I am now.

Clementine is a theater kid, with a passion for music and a thirst for performing, and due to life reasons, she’s been stuck in her lil Texas town all her life instead of taking the world by storm. But now is her chance, and she rises to the occasion beautifully. She’s confident and talented and blunt (sometimes even a lil mean with it but her heart is in the right place) and a bit of a romance phobe. Due to ✨ past trauma ✨ . The only romance she’s into is with music and theater, and she’d like to run far away from any real feelings. Let’s just nickname her the bolter. IYKYK. Really though, she just needs that tough shell cracked like crème brûlée.

Speaking of, her life changing opportunity is touring with the dreamy and devastating, Halloran. Tom Halloran is part incredibly talented human, part fae creature of the Irish woodland, and you can tell which ethereal musician inspired his character. He’s a tortured poet, an introverted gentle giant, and a musical god. Mainly he’s the sweetest, most insightful and considerate man that ever lived. He might be the fae god in this scenario, but the sheer awe he has for Clem is worthy of any deity. He worships the ground she walks on. Let me tell you I’ve never cared for long haired men in books before Tom Halloran came along. But this man with his luscious curls and huge slutty hands and his tall tree body in slutty lit professor clothes had me rethinking my stance.

With him being a shy cinnamon roll, you’d think this book might perhaps be too sweet for me (heh), but fear not. This book is so fucking horny you guys. Ohmygod the barely concealed longing between these two from the very first moment, shifting into a barely restrained fervor for each other, eventually culminating in a cataclysmic bumping of the uglies. Wow I made that sound terrible. But trust me it’s very satisfying and very hot.

The writing is lyrical and flows like a lush waterfall, befitting the musical bent of our main characters. The Irish woodland vibes even when they’re in the states are immaculate. I was fervently wishing I could catch a flight to Ireland immediately and retire to the forests there. This is quintessential romance, but it’s also a bit of a coming of age journey for Clem, and Tom’s unwavering devotion of her through the worst of her doubts and skittishness had me sobbing into my screen. Basically I’m here again to ask: my turn when? Where are the Toms of this earth and why don’t I have one? Kidding, clearly only a woman could write one. I adored the intricacies of their tour life and even moreso the little found family they had, quirky and eclectic and dear. Most of the ensemble in fact, is compelling. Especially Clem’s relationship with her mom, complicated and heartwarmingly close. It’s like Gilmore girls if Rory was a decent person (I said what I said).

I have no words to say other than the fact that this book was mind boggling. It was absolutely beautiful. It had equal amounts of angst, spice, and romance that’s to die for. Kate Golden really outdone herself with this one.

I loved seeing the Hoizer Inspo as a big fan myself, and she really did it justice. Like yearning Irish mmc? IM IN LOVE WITH HIM. He’s in my top 10 book boyfriends now. Thomas can do no wrong except not be in my bed fr.

After finishing ‘Sounds like love’ by Ashley Poston and then jumping right into this, I realized now I have a thing for rockstar romance stories. Clemintine and Thomas just really did it for me and I can’t wait to read more stories like this by Kate Golden!

Thanks so much to Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC of If Not for My Baby in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Everything I wanted in a romance novel. The writing is fun and vivid, making me feel like I am actually there with the characters. There are cute interactions and romantic vibes. Overall, I loved it.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/5 🌶🌶🌶

Tropes:
🎸 Rockstar romance
🕯Slow burn
💘 He falls first
🙈"I don't believe in love" FMC x 😍 lovesick MMC
🤲🏻 Yearning

This book feels like stepping into a Hozier song in the best, most magical way. I still don’t know what kind of spell the author cast, but I was fully enchanted.

If Not For My Baby is a rockstar romance clearly inspired by a certain Irish musician (iykyk). Clementine, a waitress and hobbyist singer, leaves her small hometown for the first time after being offered a gig singing backup for Halloran, a major music star. Clementine has spent most of her life caring for her chronically ill mother, and after watching her mother’s romantic struggles, she swears off love entirely. That... gets complicated when she starts catching feelings for Halloran.

I have complicated feelings about this book. On one hand, I really enjoyed reading it—it’s a compelling, beautifully written love story. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. It hit everything I want in a romance. But I also couldn’t shake some discomfort around the ethics of basing a fictional character so heavily on a real person, especially one who has expressed a need his privacy. I won’t dwell on it, but I think it’s important to acknowledge.

That said—if you’re a fan of Hozier, you will love this. The easter eggs are plentiful, and I don’t think I’ve ever highlighted so many quotes in a book. From the performance descriptions to the original song lyrics, it truly felt like experiencing his music through Clementine’s eyes. The prose had such reverence for his music and artistry that it made the whole book feel like a slow, aching melody.

The spice is well-paced, a true slow burn with great payoff. Every time Clementine and Halloran were alone together, I was on the edge of my seat. The sexting scene on the tour bus? Cute and hot—no notes.

Ethical weirdness aside, I adored this book and will definitely be re-reading it.

"To be loved is to be known— the worst of you, the best of you."

“Without her good love my heart atrophies, I’d succumb to gloom and mourning doves, if not for my baby.”