Heard It in a Love Song

I loved this book. Layla was such an easy character to like. She was fierce and finally finding herself and what she wanted out of life. I though Josh as wonderful. He was a man that worked hard for what he had in life and was wiling to work to keep his family together. The idea of starting over and finding out who you really are was what made me love this book. Layla and Josh had very different ending to their marriages, but both need to take time to see what they really wanted and who they were.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this advance e-reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I received this book "Heard It in a Love Song" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. So "The Girl He Used to Know" was a big favorite of mine. This book is also a good one, a beautiful love story about second chances. The words flowed smoothly and I looked forward to reading this each day. And of course, one of my favorite songs is the title! Love Marshall Tucker!

I have read several of Tracy Garvis Graves books and I really enjoyed this one. The book is beautifully written and flowed well.
Layla is new divorced trying to find her identity after a 10-year marriage. Josh is a getting divorced after 20 years of marriage to his childhood sweetheart.
They are both hurting and trying to find a new life. This is different kind of love story. I read this in just a couple of settings and I highly recommend it.
Thank you, Net Galley, for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Another fanatics read written by Tracey Garvis Graves. She is one of my favorite authors, who writes amazing stories that touch your soul.

I absolutely loved Tracey Garvis Graves's "The Girl He Used to Know," so I had high expectations for this, and I am happy to report that it lived up to all of them. This was so beautifully written and just magical. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. Layla was such as relatable and lovable character. I connected with her immediately. Her relationship with Josh felt so honest in its complexities. The whole book just felt really real and honey and resonated with me in a way most romance novels don't.

I would definitely recommend it to all romance readers!

Thank you Tracey Garvis Graves, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press, for the ARC and the chance to review this lovely book!

I like how this book is laid out. As I’ve come to expect with Tracey Garvis Graves, the characters are wonderfully normal and real. As a former musician, I felt Layla to my very core. I miss my music! I loved that she got out there and played to her heart’s content . The descriptions are delicious and the dialog flows beautifully. There was lots of introspection, though not too much and it wasn’t as repetitive as some books have gotten lately. However, it was kind of predictable. You’ll love the characters and fall easily into this story.

I really loved this novel about a woman finally set free from a horrible marriage and her desire to seek the future in music that she lost. She also meets a man who appreciates who she is and what she wants.
Skillfully and wonderfully written.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really loved this one for the pure fact that it was one of the best friends to lovers / slow burn that I have ever read. The connection that these characters (and the secondary characters) shared was a breath of fresh air.

I didn't love how the story was told (in the e-arc version). There was a present time and then in italics there would be a brief past time. I would almost prefer to read this book in alternating time frames. I feel like the past could have brought a lot more to the future than it did.

Regardless-- I loved this book. I always love Tracey's writing and she always creates distinct and complex characters that we can all relate to. If slow burn / friends to lovers are yours type of stories that you enjoy to read, I would 100% recommend this one.

After loving this author’s previous books, I was thrilled by the chance t read and review her upcoming 2021 release. While this book definitely has a slower pace, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed the unique timeline between the present day of two newly divorced individuals and the past of their failed relationships.

The characters were strong, unique, and as a reader, I could feel their struggle against the newness of being on their own again. Divorce isn’t often written about in this way, and I’m sure its story will be relatable and appreciated by many who have been through it themselves.

The history of one of the characters as a band member turned music teacher was a fun and unique sub-story. While I wouldn’t call this one a page-turner, I most definitely enjoyed it!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my gifted copy. I plan on sharing my full review on my website genthebookworm.com closer to its November publication date.

This book was beautiful. Two lonely people not ready for a relationship but, ready for something. Layla is newly divorced and finding her way. Finding out what she wants and doesn't want from life. Josh is going through a divorce but, he's also lonely and searching for something but, isn't sure what. all they know is that they enjoy spending time together. This book gives hope for a second chance at finding that special love. I loved the way this book was written. Giving insight into the previous relationships yet now dwelling on old hurts. Great characters and a really enjoyable book.

I am a huge fan of Tracey Garvis Graves - she never disappoints, and Heard It In A Love Song was a fantastic read as usual!

This story piggybacks Layla and Josh. Both are going through divorces. I loved how Layla began to find herself post divorce and rediscover how much of an impact music has on her. And when she meets Josh (and his daughter Sasha, and let's not forget to mention Norton), things develop organically.

This is a love story that was very real. I always think that while reading one of the author's books. I can't wait for this to be published in print so I can own a physical copy and recommend to friends!

Love to read this authors books. This one made your heart melt .
Thanks to author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

I’ve been a fan of Tracey Garvis Graves for some time now. I was getting ready to do a re-read of Heart Shaped Hack when I got an email that this book was available on Netgalley.

This book did not disappoint. I’m not always a fan of flashbacks, but it worked here. There was no drama. It was simply a story about Layla and Josh navigating through their new circumstances in life. However the way it was written just kept me wanting more.

I love second chance romance and Layla and Josh didnt disappoint. This book took a little bit to get into but once it took off I finished it in one sitting. It'll be perfect for those of us looking for another chance at love despite sad past experiences, including divorce. A wonderful summer read.

This is a story of second chances and rediscovering life and love after a broken heart. It is told in a dual timeline that alternates between the two main characters. At times, it is a cautionary tale of trusting too much and being blindsided by someone you are in a relationship with(watch those bank and credit card statements!). Both the characters and the plot are realistic and heart warming as well. It is a beautifully told modern love story with two main characters that I will long remember! I did receive an ARC from Netgalley, and I am very glad I did. And that old Marshall Tucker song is still going through my mind!

Tracey Garvis Graves writes another winner . Layla and Josh are both newly single. They catch each other’s eye at school drop off where Layla is Josh’s daughter’s music teacher. The writing is in alternating timelines, giving us the history of both of their relationships. I loved the writing style of this book and the slow burn of the characters’ own love story!

Heard It in a Love Song was a bit of an unexpected read about two 30 something adults finding themselves. Layla is an elementary music teacher who is on the heels of a divorce that left her without a lot of confidence. Once upon a time she was something of a rock goddess, with a commanding presence on the stage of a cover band in small town Minnesota. How did she transform from that to a 30 something ex-wife teacher, and who will she be now? Josh took a road less traveled as an 18 year old who knew he didn't want to go to college, and got instead got married to his first love. Now as his daughter enters kindergarten, he finds himself separated and trying to figure out what it is like to be on his own for the first time really ever. As their paths cross, they find out more about each other, but more importantly more about themselves.

I found this book to have some romance, a lot of good music references that had me rocking out in my head as I read, but a lot of strong character development as the backstory of both Layla and Josh is slowly revealed through memories. It was a very entertaining, easy read, and sweet book. For it's genre I would give it 5 stars as truly enjoyable. Overall, I'd give it sold 4 stars.

Thank you Tracey Garvis Graves, NetGalley, and St. Martins Press for an ARC of Heard It In a Love Song in exchange for an honest review. I definitely enjoyed this one!

I absolutely loved this book! I could relate in some many ways with the main character Layla. It will stick in your head like the authors other books. You will not regret reading this book! If you’ve never read any by T.G.G, this book is a great start! It flips POV between Layla and Josh. I like books that give you two characters POV. Both are recently divorced & hesitant to start dating. They agree just to be friends and that leads to a beautiful friendship. How relationships should start.

I was a huge fan of author Tracey Garvis Graves' previous novel and could not wait to dive into this upcoming release. This friends-to-lovers story of Layla and Josh did not disappoint. I found it to be beautiful, heartwarming and enjoyed the slow burn of the romance. The music incorporated throughout via Layla's 'character was an added touch and Josh's character was incredibly likeable.

I loved The Girl He Used to Know and books about musicians trying to make it in the music industry, so this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. Layla and Josh have each come out of their respective divorces wiser and a little weary. When they meet there is an obvious attraction, but they both decide to take it slow having been burned in the past. Before Layla was married she was a musician trying to get her big break, but eventually quit the industry and became a music teacher. As things start to heat up between Josh and Layla, so does her music career.

Throughout the story I was intrigued and wanted to know more and understand the personal history of both Josh and Layla, and what led them to their individual divorces. It was nice to see each of them work to rebuild, and acknowledge mistakes of their pasts. It seemed like Layla really learned more about herself and what she wanted out of the music industry and life. Josh and Layla had a quiet chemistry that built as they worked to slowly establish their relationship. I appreciated that they were very mature about the way they approached their relationship, and could feel the hesitation as they worked to build trust. I would call this a mature story about two people learning to find themselves and rebuild after divorce, which I think can be inspiring to anybody starting over after a tough breakup. Thank you to NetGalley and SMP Romance for a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great book and I enjoyed reading it. The characters were great and so was the storyline. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

* This ARC was provided to me in exchange for my honest opinion on the book. *

I know this book is set in freezing Minnesota, but it just had a really good summer read vibe to it. Heard It in a Love Song is a wonderful story centering around the idea of navigating life after a divorce, and even the eventual dipping of the toes into romance. I found myself very attached to Josh and Layla both individually and together. The dialogue between the two characters was beautifully written as their chemistry was off the charts, and I loved the presence of the side characters such as Tonya and Brian. They added to the story in a fun, but substantial way. The flashbacks to Josh and Layla's individual marital issues prior to meeting the other gave the reader more than enough context for why the two were drawn to each other. This was a very quick read and I can't wait for everyone to be able to read it!

A second-chance love story for divorced romantics and single parents that celebrates self-love and hope.

This book was somewhat of a slowburn but felt very real. Josh and Layla were adults, and acted as so, and as someone around their age i felt i could relate. their romance built slowly and carefully due to their respective divorces. their divorces were completely different and i though that was an interesting take as well. overall even though it built slowly, i still read it in it's entirety within two days.

I was expecting Heard It in a Love Song to be more of a romance and even though it WASN'T I enjoyed it immensely! This is a story about overcoming, finding your way, and falling in love again. It's a story that focuses more on the individuals rather than their budding romance. It's also a story that gives readers faith! Tracey Garvis Graves does it again and pens another winner in this book.

Heard It in a Love Song is a sweet romance story. Layla is a divorced music teacher, who in her younger days was in a band. Josh is an almost divorced father to a kindergartner who goes to Layla’s school. Josh married very young and does electrical work. The book goes back and forth from past to present and delves a little into who Layla and Josh are. It’s a sweet love story. Enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the E-ARC. This is my own opinion.

Heard It in a Love Song is a great romance about starting over and second chances. It tells the stories of Layla and Josh and what happens as they grow to care about each other. They meet at a school where Layla is his daughter's teacher and they hit off over time. Both are going through a divorce and kind of unsure how to navigate things. The story is told with alternating points of view which I really enjoyed. I also enjoyed the flashbacks which show how they grew apart from their spouses. The MN setting is spot on and the characters are fantastic. This is my first time reading this author but it won't be my last.

Heard It in A Love Song is a realistic, touching look at lost love, found love, and the heartbreaks in between. Josh is the cute, newly single dad who is adjusting to life with his daughter, an affectionate older dog, and three brothers who want him to reenter the dating world ASAP. Layla is the recently divorced music teacher who greets her students warmly - despite the freezing Minnesota weather - outside of school every morning. Will Josh and Layla find a lasting connection, or will their quests to find themselves take them in opposite directions? You'll find yourself rooting for Layla and Josh in this beautiful story about love, music and second chances.

Since The Girl He Used to Know is one of my favorite top 10 of all time novels, I was super excited to get the chance to review TGG’s latest - Heard it in a Love Song. And, friends, she did not disappoint!

Love Song is the beautiful story of Layla and Josh. Layla an artist and elementary school music teacher, and Josh - the almost divorced parent of one of her students. The characters are deep and blemished - which makes their coming together so much more perfect. TGG weaves together present day with their histories, giving rich detail to their current day struggles.

Love Song will be the perfect book to cozy up to a fire this fall all while listening to its’ perfect soundtrack.

Heard It in a Love Song by Tracey Garvis Graves is a beautifully written friends to lovers romance. I really loved this book and the dual timeline where we get the back-stories of Layla and Josh and what brought them to where they were in their lives now. I could almost hear Layla singing. It is that well written. I love how they both have learned what they want in their lives and they work to follow their dreams and be who you want to be. I highly recommend this book!

This book is such a delightful romantic novel. This is the story of Layla, recently divorced elementary school music teacher who used to be a lead singer in the local band, and Josh, recently separated dad and electrician, finding their way to each other. I loved the way Layla and Josh narrate and review their pasts throughout the book to identify how they ended up where they were and what corrections would they make in the present. This story of thirty something lead characters leaving their past behind, becoming wiser, getting to know each other, finding love will make you believe in second chances and do-overs all over again. The romance is sweet, the characters are relatable.

Apart from the writing, I loved the cover of this book so much and also the gamut of songs that Layla mentions throughout the book whenever she talks about her previous concerts or current sets helped me create a cool new playlist to rejig my current one. Overall this is a lovely read and I would recommend this book to fiction lover looking for a charming love story.

[thank you to the publisher for the free book]

“From the bestselling author of The Girl He Used to Know comes a love song of a story about starting over and second chances.”

This book shows the realistic, messy, and cautious way two characters navigate divorce, grow and find each other. Someone close to me went through a divorce this year and I found a lot of the things the characters went through to be similar, even though the characters had two different experiences and situations in the novel. I was glad this book had hope, growth and healing. The slow burn fit and blossoming friendship between the two characters was done well and fit perfectly with this type of story. Tracy Garvis Graves is such a unique storyteller and all of her books have stood out to me in different ways. The only thing I thought was a little off was the cover; it looks like it takes place in the 60’s/70’s but it is present day.

Heard It In A Love Song by Tracey Garvis Graves is a book about life, love, and living out our dreams.

Layla, a school music teacher, was once a fierce rocker chick, but gave up her dreams to marry her douchebag boyfriend whom she recently divorced. On the first day of school, Layla meets single dad Josh, who is currently going through a divorce from his high school sweetheart. Layla and Josh form a friendship which slowly leads to more. While the book is about their budding relationship, it also focuses on how two people pick up the pieces of their lives in the present while reconciling their past lives after a divorce.

There was nothing gimmicky or dramatic about this book. Everyone dealt with their shit in normal, adult ways. The characters felt very real and could be any of us or our friends. I particularly liked how Josh’s soon-to-be ex wife was not demonized or pitted against Layla, which is a common trope in romance books. This book could also be titled “We Are All Adults Here” and it would suffice. Overall, if you are looking for a less smutty, well-told, quiet, love story this is the book for you.

A journey of self discovery that candidly shows life's ups and downs and how they form us into the people we want to be if we're smart enough to learn the lesson.

Perfect low stress, high return read. Heard it in a Love Song is about two adults looking for second chances. The story centers on their relationship but it is really about their individual growth as people. I appreciated a relationship story that put the characters own development first.
My favorite part of this book is how realistic the relationship is between Layla and Josh. And their character flaws are so relatable!
I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. It will be published on November 2, 2021.

Such a beautiful story. This author always makes me fall In love with the characters. It’s refreshing to read about characters in this stage of life and in this age group. This is such a lovely spin on this part of life and even thought their life wasn’t perfect, I wanted to be right there with them experiencing all of this. Beautiful book.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinions. I've read an earlier book by this author and was excited to get the chance to read this as well. Heard It in a Love Song by Tracey Garvis Graves is a lovely story of love finding its way through heartache. If you haven't read anything buy Tracey do it now as you will be so glad you did! Can't wait for her next book to be released!

Wonderfully written and imagined story about two wounded souls coming together. I am a sucker for any women inspection/romance it takes place near or in a school setting because I used to be a teacher myself. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

TGG is back! Loved this book and how the story took its time in developing chemistry. The way she creates music in a book is magical. I swear that I can hear it! Great read that will give you all the feels.

I loved "The Girl He Used to Know" by this author, and I was looking forward to reading this one. This story focuses on Layla and Josh. Both recently divorced and having a hard time at this point. Layla is the music teacher at Josh's daughter's school. Josh walk his daughter to school every day and gets to talk to layla and they both start to feel a connection with each other. The story is told through tge alternating POV of Josh and Layla each chapter. I really enjoyed it that way because you slowly see their relationship and their feelings towards eachother grow from each of their perspectives. I really loved the characters in this one and was rooting for them to have this second chance at happiness. I love the way this author tells a story and I will definitely pick up her future books!


Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

Thanks to net galley for advanced reader copy. I love this author and was so excited to read this book! I felt like I was able to connect with the characters and it’s a different feel than her other books. Can’t wait to read more of this author!

I absolutely loved Tracey Garvis Graves' book "The Girl He Used to Know," so I was absolutely ecstatic to be able to read "Heard It In a Love Song!" I absolutely LOVED this book!! Layla has been single for a long time. Her divorce ended badly, and she hasn't been able to do what she truly loves--singing with her band. She's now an elementary school music teacher. Then she meets Josh--a single dad in the middle of a divorce whose daughter is in Layla's music class. What starts out as Layla dog-sitting for Josh and his daughter turns into a sweet romance, as two people try to figure out where their lives are going and if they will be moving forward together. I don't know if it's because I'm close in age to Layla or because I've had failed relationships that turned nasty, but I identified with her so much more than I could have imagined. This book was sweet, emotional, and what I like to call a "real-life" book, meaning it felt like I was reading a real person's life story. I just loved this book so much, and I cannot WAIT for her next book!!

I went through almost every available emotion while reading this book. It was at times, difficult to read about the situations that the characters had in the past, but also joyous to see them moving on to a better future.

I think the author wrote a fantastic story that had my full attention at all times. I cared about the characters she created. Some of the plot revolves around music, bands and the music industry. I found this so interesting since I have never been exposed to this world before. Although I love music, I have never been gifted with playing an instrument. Reading this book, I can understand the special feeling a person gets from performing.

I definitely recommend this engrossing book. I believe this book is more a Women’s fiction than a romance. It contains much more than the meeting of a couple. It is more about a woman attaining her self-worth and confidence.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is done freely as a hobby of mine, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley. What drew me in was the title and cover art. I haven’t read any books by Tracey until Heard It in a Love Song. I was playing the songs in my head when they were mentioned. Magic Man by Heart and her comparison to Ann and Nancy Wilson is realistic. The lives of Layla and Josh are parallel and intersecting. Being true to yourself, becoming a responsible adult, and loved for yourself are important themes. Friendships and families help both of them grow. This story sucked me in! I highly recommend it!

I was taken back to the 1977 song of the same title by the Marshall Tucker Band—
“heard it in a love song can’t be wrong”

Is this love? Rebound? Loneliness? Layla and Josh need to pause and find out, and that’s what they do in this intriguing, uplifting, and romantic story. Often we need to pause in mid-life and find out what it is we really love to do and who it is we really love. Interspersed with references to other love songs and melodies, this lyrical story will make you examine your own love life, work life and figure out where you might need to change direction. A fun read with real meaning.

Tracey Garvis Graves' books always make me smile and Heard It in a Love Song is no exception. Layla and Josh are two lovely, likable people whose first marriages, for very different reasons, went wrong. They're both in the getting it altogether stage and I just rooted for them throughout the book. Layla is a singer and this book is as breezy, creative, and charming as she seems to be as a performer. Josh is an electrician and his work is a metaphor for their relationship...sparking.

5 REALLY BIG STARS!!

There is something so completely satisfying in reading those final words in the final pages of a really REALLY good book. After I close the book and turn it over in my hands, all the scenes from the story flip over in my mind like an old film reel, with particularly well-written scenes jumping out and almost teasing me to go back and read them again. Heard it in a Love Song was allllllll of that for me and more.

At the crux of it, Heard it in a Love Song is a love letter to anyone who has ever married their first love and then realized it wasn’t their endless love. As readers, we experience dual timelines glimpsing the destruction of two separate marriages, and the new love establishing between our main characters, Josh and Layla. Graves does an excellent job with character development and gives us real voices with relatable experiences and challenges.

Josh and Layla are unique and their love story is a slow, gentle, friends-to-lovers journey all while navigating the baggage and insecurities that divorce undoubtedly leaves in its wake. Possibly one of the most refreshing parts for me, was although there was plenty of trepidation between the main characters, there was an absence of unnecessary drama. Yes!

I enjoyed this story and savored it's an unapologetic nod to rock and roll, and navigating new love after a devastating heartbreak.

I had my eye on this book since I loved The Girl He Used to Know, so I was thrilled to win it from Goodreads. I immediately added it to my five-book pile and was excited when it reached the top. And I'm pleased to share that it will be worth your wait when it officially publishes in November.

Heard It in a Love Song was such a sweet and genuine love story with a cozy feel to it. I could practically hear the music being played throughout. I like how Tracey Garvis Graves showed both Layla and Josh's narratives and how she went back and forth between the past and present to paint the full picture. I loved watching Josh and Layla get to know each other, as well as Layla finding herself after her divorce. The music scenes were a lot of fun and I could feel Layla's energy radiating off the stage. I actually wish I could go hear her perform. Sasha seemed like a cute kid and I loved Norton's personality, as well.

All in all, a great story that will keep you warm this winter.

Movie casting ideas (I only cast the present versions of the characters):
Layla: Melissa Benoist
Josh: Dustin Milligan
Liam: John Patrick Amedori
Kimmy: Blake Lively
Brian: Matt Czuchry

Layla used to be in a band until her husband made her quit. Josh married his high school sweetheart soon after high school graduation, but is currently going thru a divorce.

The friends of Layla and Josh want each of them to start dating again, and find someone that makes them happy. What follows is a true and honest romance.

I can’t say enough good things about this book. For me, it is very rare to like ALL of the characters in a book. There’s always that one that just irks me. Not so in this book - I truly loved all of the main characters.

Heard It In A Love Song releases November 2, and you need to bump it up on your wish list.