Reviews

Songs and Sweethearts by Heather Long

bookwormbetty's review

5.0

so good

This book to me had the biggest explosion of growth for the characters. I didn’t like certain parts, hated it in fact, but, I don’t want to say anything and ruin the book but lawd, that ending? Who hurt you girl, cause…dang.

booklovinmamas's review

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

After finishing Defiance and Dedication in June 2023 with that crazy cliffhanger that Heather Long left readers on, I was anxious to start reading the next book in the Untouchable series. I did have to read other books before starting the tenth book, but I finally finished it. I knew by the title, Songs, and Sweethearts, that the book would involve Frankie and Ian (Bubba) working on their music together, but that cliffhanger from the ninth book had to be addressed first. 

The tenth book picks up from the last book, and poor Frankie has another traumatic event that involves her mother this time. A mother who I have never liked since she was introduced, especially with how she treated Frankie. She went too far in the last book, and Frankie has to plan her mother’s funeral and deal with what her mother almost did to her and one of her boyfriends. Frankie is dealing with it, but her boyfriends, Archie, Coop, Ian, Jake, and friend Rachel are worried about her. After what happened, the boys decided to whisk her away on holiday so she could relax and escape everything that happened. After she has the vacation, Frankie is given an opportunity with Ian to work on their music together, and they take it, but not without talking with the others, who are very supportive of the decision. It will give Frankie something to do to help with what happened, but the issue is she won’t have all her boyfriends with her. They will remain behind in New York going to school while she’s off with Ian on getting their music career going. She’s never been away from this long, and it will be hard for all of them.

I’ve enjoyed following Frankie and her boyfriends, Archie, Coop, Ian, and Jake, as they grow from high school students to college students in the last nine books. They have made their relationship as five work out well, and there have been some bumps in the road with some of them fighting, but they have come a long way from the first book. The boys have grown so much, and so has Frankie. I’m proud of all these characters and anxious to read how the next two books play out because now there’s not much suspense or drama to happen, especially with Maddie being gone. Maddie seemed to be the focal point of drama when it came to Frankie and with her gone, there’s not much happening, except with Frankie dealing with her mother being gone. It’s not like she was there, but it still affected Frankie. Frankie has the best support system; the guys will do anything to ensure she’s happy. The family dynamic of the characters and how they are together keeps me reading. I love Frankie and her boyfriends differently, and my review would be too long if I went into those details. 

Here’s the thing: I’m not too fond of them going through hardships, and at the end of this book, Heather had to put them through another one, which was hard. I wasn’t expecting it, and neither were the characters. Haven’t they been through enough, Heather? Yes, prepare yourself because there is another cliffhanger, and it’s an emotional one. 

The issue I had while reading this book, though, was it didn’t have the same kind of drama as the previous books because the main cause of the drama was finally gone: Maddie. It didn’t hold my attention, and I was bored when reading it, skimming over parts. This book included a lot of inner dialogue, which felt unnecessary to the story. There was also the issue of Frankie being away from three out of four of her boyfriends. I knew it would be difficult for Frankie and the three boyfriends she left behind. They supported her the whole time, but I could tell by their POVs they were missing her, and even Ian missed the guys. I understood we had to read the journey of Frankie and Ian’s music journey together, but the whole time, I wanted her with her whole family, which includes all her boyfriends. 

I’m curious about what will happen in the next two books. I feel like this series was too long after reading this one when I felt bored most of the time reading this book, and I hate saying that. I love Frankie and her boys, but I want them to have their happily ever after. I will hold off on reading the next two books, but I will finish this series. I must know where Frankie and her lovable boyfriends will end up together. 

Story Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5

Steam/Spice Rating: 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Untouchable series, and each book leaves readers with a cliffhanger, so I highly recommend reading in order.

Would I recommend this book/series? I recommend this book/series if you enjoy reading Mature YA to New Adult and College Romances. (Characters are in their senior year of high school (books one to eight), and then book 9 – later they are in college.) It is a reserve harem/why choose, which means the FMC doesn’t have to choose between the four boyfriends she’s with throughout the series.

Genre/SubGenre(s): Romance | New Adult & College Romance | Reverse Harem

Trope(s)/Element(s): Friends to Lovers | Found Family | Why Choose

jamies_bookreads's review

5.0

To say I love this series might be an understatement, I relate to Frankie (FMC) so much in her younger years, and her relationship with her mom.

This tenth book in the series picks up right where we left off in the last one. You will start with the gambit of emotions that come with that previous cliff ending. I cried, laughed, my heart hurt, and my heart filled with happiness. I found myself fanning my face as the steam built. The guys love Frankie with such depth, you can not help but fall in love with them. I truly love the growth Frankie and the guys have gained in this series, I feel a sense of pride (like a mom). I love everything about this series and true to Heather Long’s style, I did not see the ending coming and will be counting down the days until book 11 releases.

If you have not picked up this series, I highly recommend it, NA/Contemporary RH TW/18+

katieburnette's review

5.0

It is unusual for me to stick around for a series this long, but I am addicted to Frankie and her boys. It makes my heart happy to see Edward developing into a decent human being. The trauma and hardships that spill over from book 9 are not glossed over and handled so well. I feel like I live next door to the brownstone with how well I know everyone. I love how the boys not only support and love Frankie, but they love and support each other. And Coop getting pierced...wowzers!

Things I'm hoping for in book 11. Rachel to find love. Jeremy to find love. Frankie to accept the death of her mother. Frankie and her family catch a breather and have some downtime to be teenagers and relax!!

Well done Heather, every book you write just draws me in even more. Looking forward to the final two books in the near future!

noemi1010's review

4.0

I'm a big fan of Frankie and her guys, and every time I pick up a book in this series, I don't know what to expect, but for the ending. I felt like lately the endings of the books are the same; they just keep repeating—there is only a different person dying each time.

In this book Frankie needs to deal with her mother's funeral and with her career as a musician. Frankie and Ian are forced to live in a different state from the guys while they are on tour presenting their music. When they are finally back all together for the winter holidays, death struck again.

morebooksforever's review

5.0

amazing

This series just gets better and better but man those last few pages are gut wrenching! Can’t wait to see what Frankie and her guys get up to next

daniireads's review

4.0

Heather did it again and completely sucked me in to Frankie and the brother boyfriend's world so completely.

Songs & Sweethearts was the perfect follow up to D&D, especially after everything Frankie went through in the last book. S&S made me laugh, swoon, and blush, but of course had to go and break my heart all over again.

Ughhhh, you've gotta stop with these painful endings ma'am...

mckennasmithh's review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I love Frankie and the boys don’t get me wrong. But by the time I’ve reached book 10, I wondered what else could happen in their world. I do think this series could be shorter and this book could have been shorter as well.

Spoiler

I’m really curious to see how the whole band thing works out because it’s not Frankies dream but it seems to be Ians.

I am curious to see how the last two books will end up! 

holliannesullivan's review

5.0