A grumpy rock star and a joyful children’s show creator revive television magic in this standalone, cozy small-town romance.

Griffin Harvey lives his life in the spotlight. Reluctantly. The brooding famous singer-songwriter is on the cusp of composing his sophomore album . . . if only he could find the notes. But after gaining custody of his two-year-old daughter, the only music he’s writing is about shapes and counting to ten.

Enter Beverly, who lives her life in the background producing children’s television and laughter. Except joy is hard to find when her nonprofit loses funding. She sinks all of her savings to revive the children’s show by herself, but when her variety show appearance collides with Griffin’s, their banter and chemistry is caught on live television.

Suddenly, Griffin is singing a new tune. He needs a muse, and Beverly needs all the help she can get. With his secret daughter in tow, they hide out in her cozy mountain hometown, attempting to script, compose, and revive television magic. Their dynamic shouldn’t work. He’s all harsh tattoos and rough hands while she’s bright colors and gentle touches. Once their three months of work are done, they’ll return to their separate worlds. But what happens when it seems the true magic might be found in each other?

My Review

Beverly is a puppeteer trying to make it big in Los Angeles, but her live show debut doesn’t exactly go as planned thanks to an unexpected run-in with iconic rock star Griffin Harvey. Maybe it’s just me, but between Bernie Bird, Griffin Harvey, and the name of Beverly’s show, I couldn’t help but think of ’90s sitcoms and classic bird-loving TV characters.

While Beverly’s big debut may have been a disaster, meeting the popular single dad definitely wasn’t.

As the story unfolds, the connections between the characters start to make more sense, especially once Griffin’s rock star lifestyle and the people surrounding him come into the picture. From a business arrangement to a relationship, things move quickly, and of course, the media isn’t far behind. I also loved that the story eventually moves from Los Angeles to the North Carolina mountains, which means I’m happily counting North Carolina toward my reading challenge.

I absolutely adored Griffin. His moody musician personality paired with his thoughtful, caring heart made him easy to love. He definitely feels like the one who falls first, and I enjoyed how different he and Beverly were while still complementing each other so well. This story blends rock star romance with Hollywood life, cozy small-town charm, and the pressures of fame, creating a unique and heartwarming romance.

The ex plays a much larger role in the story than I expected. Honestly, there were probably more appearances than necessary. He’s part of the past, and if Beverly and Griffin are going to have a future together, I found myself wishing he’d stay there.

The cover gives strong autumn romance vibes, but once the story moves to the North Carolina mountains with the cold weather and wintry atmosphere, it felt much more like a winter read to me. I actually think the cover is a little misleading.

Their first kiss is both intimate and electric, and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow from coworkers to friends, then fake dating, before finally becoming lovers. Both characters have incredibly kind hearts, and that kindness shines throughout the story.

Just as things begin heating up between them, Griffin’s secret comes to light. Beverly has every right to hesitate because Griffin comes with plenty of baggage. Keeping the truth from each other creates a lot of tension, leaving both characters to decide whether they can balance their careers with the relationship they both want.

The epilogue wraps everything up nicely, and the characters truly grow throughout the story. While I enjoyed spending time with them, I never felt a deep emotional connection. It was entertaining and sweet, but I found myself watching their story unfold rather than fully feeling it alongside them.

Overall, I thought the premise was fun and unique, but combining a puppeteer, a rock star, a single dad, Hollywood, and fake dating made it feel like there were a lot of moving pieces. It was an enjoyable romance with a cozy winter setting, even if I think the cover suggests a different season.

If you would like to read Love Felt Like This by Julia Oliver you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. This book release 9/8/2026.

If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: Small Town, Fake Relationship, and He Falls First.

Thank You Netgalley and Berkley Publishing, for an arc copy of this book I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.