Title: A Love Song for Liars (Rivals #1)
Author: Piper Lawson
Genre: Rock Romance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Schooled from the Travesty series is a favorite, so I’m a fan. I haven’t read outside the Travesty series, though, so I’m an ill-educated one. And this series, Rivals, is a spin-off from a previous one entitled Wicked–now you’re caught up.
There is nothing more fickle than a musician’s heart. They write love songs about everything from loving lovers to adoring jams and jellies, and at the end of the day, they have the flagrant disregard for tossing out hearts and empty jars without thought for the vessels. Annie knows this despite a rocker dad with a happily-ever-after. Musicians can’t be trusted, and the most untrustworthy is the owner of her heart and keeper of her secrets, ex-bestie and current-worstie, Tyler Adams. He tossed her aside, and she is determined to stay there.
But rockers and former besties, protectors, and kiss-stealers all have one thing in common: a wrap sheet for stringing Annie along and leaving her heartbroken.
A Love Song For Liars suffers a pacing issue. The prologue is aces. The first chapter bogs down in exposition so much that it gags on itself. There would be these incredible, synergistic dialogue parts that would fall apart by adjacent inner monologue. I had this repetitive stop and go feeling when I wanted things to flow better. It wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it was disappointing.
While I had a problem with the connectivity of some of the events and narrative, I was blown away with some of the more gentle and beautiful prose written into Annie’s POV. The character is a sensitive, heart-on-her-sleeve type who is okay taking the blows if they keep it real. And while it sounds a little like a punching bag, it makes sense in the story as she is a sheltered girl who is protected by her father–and not trusted to live through making her own mistakes. He’s a former rockstar, after all. But her vulnerability is often breathtakingly expressed.
“Our lives are the stories we tell about them. The stories we sing about them. And our hearts don’t belong in cages. We’re meant to be fragile. We’re born to bleed.”
Now I’m sure book boyfriend awards are going out, and Tyler is getting one. I will nominate him for one, but this is book one of a trilogy. He’s a repeat offender of douchery, so let’s hold off on giving him the certificate until he shows a more excellent aptitude for holding up the title.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary advance copy of this book.
Title: A love Song for Liars (Rivals #1)
Author: Piper Lawson
Genre: Rock Romance
Release Date: 29 April 2020
Summary:
Tyler Adams and I never should have met.
I was rich, he was poor.
I was plain, he was beautiful.
I ached for the spotlight, he made his music in the dark.
Yet he looked at me in a way my rock star father and rich, snobby classmates never did: like I mattered.
I never saw it coming.
When Tyler moved in with us to work with my dad and attend Oakwood Prep, he seduced my enemies and claimed their crown.
He betrayed my friendship and crushed my heart to become their rebel prince.
They can keep him.
I’ll never forgive the boy I used to ache for.
But some nights…
…He makes me want to.
A Love Song for Liars is Book 1 in the angsty, emotional Rivals trilogy. Fans of forbidden new adult, academy and rock star romance will love this new series.
About Piper Lawson:
Piper Lawson is a USA Today bestselling author of smart, steamy romance! She writes about women who follow their dreams (even the scary ones), best friends who know your dirty secrets (and love you anyway), and complex heroes you’ll fall hard for (especially after talking with them). Brains or brawn? She’ll never make you choose. Piper lives in Canada with her tall, dark and brilliant husband. She believes peanut is a protein, rose gold is a neutral, and love is ALWAYS the answer.
Connect with Piper Lawson:
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