Robin’s Reviews 2026

Contemporary Romance – Speculative Fiction/Magical Realism

If you’re looking for a contemporary romance with a fresh twist, check out SOUNDS LIKE LOVE by Ashley Poston. A hitmaking songwriter, currently in a slump, meets a musician, part of a now defunct boy band. Sparks fly when these strangers are pressured by a kiss cam at a concert, until his arrogance douses them moments later. When she returns to her hometown, the start of a new song is in her head, along with an unwanted telepathic connection—to him.

Book Summary

Joni Lark has written hit songs for popular singers and bands, but she’s in a dry spell. She crosses paths with another special guest at a concert, Sebastian Fell, a member of Renegade, a boy band that broke up over a decade ago. An unexpected kiss cam pressures them to act. Sparks fly, until his arrogance gets in the way.

Joni heads to her hometown, hoping to find inspiration to write.  But, as the saying goes, you can never go home. It’s different. Her mother’s memories are fading quicker than she expected and Revelry, the music venue her family owns, is closing.

When a partially formed melody floats around in Joni’s head, she’s rattle to also hear the thoughts of a musician. The more they communicate, the more she’s attracted to him, until the man shows up, and he’s none other than Sebastian Fell. She can’t reconcile the difference between the thoughts she’s been hearing and the arrogant man she met at the concert.

He believes they can break their telepathic connection if they finish the song that’s haunting them both. But what if the song is there for a reason? By time they finish it, will they want to break the connection?

My Thoughts

I picked this book because I enjoy the blending of romance with magical realism, which few authors do. If you like contemporary romance, you may enjoy Ashley Poston’s twist of adding this speculative element to her story.

I loved the unique premise. Not only can the main characters talk to each other telepathically, but they share the same ear worm of a half-conceived song. When they first experience each other’s thoughts, they don’t know who they’re hearing. People usually filter their thoughts before they speak, but since they can hear the unfiltered thoughts, they are discovering the true person.

Joni’s parents owning a beach-town music venue with decades of history was fun to me, nostalgic, in a sense. It tied in nicely, adding another music storyline. SOUNDS LIKE LOVE also tackled the problem of aging parents and a family business the children aren’t interested in taking over.

SOUNDS LIKE LOVE is an easy-read, light romance, perfect for a weekend escape.

About the Author

A New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Ashley Poston writes adult speculative romances and young adult novels. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and now lives in South Carolina. She spends time taking long walks, playing with her cats, and perusing every bookstore she comes across. Some of the titles she’s best known for include: A Novel Love Story, The Seven Year Slip, and The Dead Romantics.

Have you read any of these Ashley Poston books? Comment below!

Purchase Your Copy

SOUNDS LIKE LOVE by Ashley Poston, published in 2025, is available through most book sellers. However, I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org. I’m an affiliate because I love their mission to support small, independent bookstores across the country. I may receive a small commission from your order, but it doesn’t increase your cost AND you’re helping small bookstores! Win-win! You can order SOUNDS LIKE LOVE HERE. And check out my Bookshop page with other great recommendations HERE. 

If You Like…

If you like the description of SOUNDS LIKE LOVE by Ashley Poston, check out these books I’ve reviewed in past blogs: romance with magical realism – The Good Part by Sophie Cousens, romance with music in the storyline – The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith, and a similar romance without the magical realism – One Golden Summer and Every Summer After, both by Carley Fortune.

 

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