Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is a sweet friends to lovers romance focusing on Micah and John. They meet in high school and as teenagers form a band with other friends that takes off in popularity. They release an album and tour the world, until the band breaks up just before they turn 20 years old. Ten years later the band is recruited to reunite for one more performance on a tv-show themed cruise. John misses Micah and performing with the band. They were best friends growing up and he’s secretly been in love with her since he was 12. Micah dreads getting back with the band and facing the mistakes and heartache that forced her to break from the band in the first place. But, she misses John and wants to connect with him again.

The book starts very slow, almost too slow for me to stay interested. Stick with it because once the characters start interacting with each other mid-way into the book, the plot picks up and will hook you . We never really find out what happened with Micah to make her break up the band, but the author alludes to abusive behavior by her boyfriend, a fellow bandmate. She’s definitely suffered some form of trauma, and can barely make herself play music anymore. As she sidesteps dealing with her ex, she and John reconnect. I liked how patient John was with Micah, and how he fell right into his old patterns of looking out for her even when she doesn’t know she needs it. Before long the spark between them that was always just below the surface ignites and they secretly start hooking up.

Although John seems pretty well adjusted, he’s got his own issues he needs to work through, including telling Micah how he feels about her. As the duo lend each other strength the other lacks, their bond grows stronger than ever. But, is there a future beyond the cruise, especially with them living on opposite sides of the country?

The book is full of nostalgia surrounding the themed cruise – an ode to a popular teenage show that reminds me of the mania surrounding Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Rabid fans fill the cruise, and the band’s appearance on the show’s prom episode playing their “one-hit-wonder” song definitely gave me Buffy vibes. It was the perfect place for Micah to regain her love of music in front of a generous crowd already predetermined to love her and the band.

I wouldn’t characterize this as a rom com. It is more solemn than that, although there are brief moments of comic relief, particularly involving drummer Steve. He reminds me of a kid in a candy shop for the first time. Part eager 7 year old, part proud dad bragging about his kids, and total goofball. Overall this is a quick and easy read that will give you the warm fuzzy feelings about your teenage years and first love.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley and Berkley. All opinions are my own.