I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“I know the consequences of signing that contract. You’ve got even more to lose. My mom lost her life to country music. How could I lose more than that?”
You’d Be Mine is an astounding young adult contemporary novel by author Erin Hahn.
Annie Mathers is America’s sweetheart and heir to a country music legacy full of all the things her Gran warned her about.
Superstar Clay Coolidge is most definitely going to end up one of those things.
Unfortunately for Clay, his bad boy image is turning into bad boy reality, and if he can’t convince Annie to join his summer tour, his music label is going to drop him.
Annie has been avoiding the spotlight since her parent’s tragic deaths, except on her skyrocketing YouTube channel. Swayed by Clay’s undeniable charm and good looks, Annie and her band agree to join the tour, sparking rumours and fans wishes that she and Clay are more than just tour mates.
Annie grew up with a front seat to her parent’s volatile marriage and wants nothing to do with the high profile-relationships that seem to be an intrinsic part of fame. With repeating her parent’s history.
If only she could convince her heart that Clay, with his painful past and head over heels inducing tenor, isn’t worth the risk.
When I first read the blurb for this novel, I wasn’t really sure just what to expect from it, but I’m so glad to say that any of my expectations were so far surpassed I was literally speechless and sat in silence for a good long while after I finished the novel.
I loved the easy camaraderie and teasing between all the characters which helped to balance some of the heavier and more emotionally turbulent moments.
I hold up a hand. “How about ‘Hey, man. Nice to see you. You look good. How’s it been? I like your new song. Are you growing a beard?’”
Fitz picks at his label. “Hey, man, nice to see you. You look better. I’ve always been a fan of your work, and you made me cry like a baby.” He raises a rusty eyebrow. “Would we call that a beard?”
It was also so refreshing to read about two protagonists, particularly in a YA novel, take a realistic approach to what could have become a toxic relationship. To say that ‘enough is enough’ and focus on fixing themselves before starting a relationship, instead of clinging to one another and believing that love would be a magical cure-all to both Annie and Clay’s past troubles and trauma.
“All this time, without even meaning to, I’ve seen Annie as my salvation. My light at the end of this fucked-up tunnel. Her name would save my reputation. Her passion would inspire my music.
Her love would fix me.
And all this time, she’s seen me as her downfall. Her inevitable conclusion. I would break her, and she was going to let me.
Or we could have been. But we won’t be because now I know. I’m going to do what Robbie didn’t. I’m cutting her off at the start. She can’t be my sun. We’d never survive that. I crawl to my feet and stand, feeling resolute. Tomorrow is day one of the rest of my life.
And the rest of hers.”
A sensational and soulful novel about adversity, healing, love, redemption and hope. You’d Be Mine is a marvellous YA novel, filled with light-hearted banter, and heart-wrenchingly beautiful moments. Erin Hahn has done an absolutely outstanding job on her debut novel and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
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