ARC Review: ‘The Sound of Us’ by Sarah Castille
I received a complimentary copy of the book from The Author Agency in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Sound of Us
by Sarah CastilleSeries: Havencrest U #1
Published by Bramble on November 26, 2024
SubGenres: New Adult and College Romance
Format: eArc
Pages: 320
Source: The Author Agency
Audience: 18+/Adult
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A Star is Born meets Good Girl Complex in this angsty, deeply emotional, heated romance perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover.
Broken hearts and hidden pasts collide in a symphony of passion and redemption.
Skye Jordan thought she had it all figured out. Eighteen months ago, she was in college and dreaming of a basketball career. But in a split second her world fell apart. Now she’s back at Havencrest U, broke and desperate. She has no use for sexy, bad boy musicians who kiss her senseless. . . until she lands an internship at the radio station where he works.
DJ Dante Romano has lost every person close to his heart. All he has is his music. Consumed by guilt and driven by vengeance, he has no time for love, and yet the fiery new intern who shares his passion and feels his pain tempts him like no other. For Dante, Skye is off limits. And yet from the moment he meets her, he can’t turn away.
Soon their scorching attraction develops into something deeper. Together they could make beautiful music, but will their untold secrets force them apart?
The Sound of Us is an emotionally impactful book that connects two characters through music, so prepare yourself before reading it. You’ll need tissues at times. Any author who can evoke strong emotions in me about the characters’ experiences is definitely someone I want to read more of, and that is what Sarah Castille did while I read Skye and Dante’s story. I loved how Sarah included a different song at the beginning of each chapter and incorporated music throughout the book because it’s important for Skye and Dante’s journey.
In the beginning, these two characters faced significant struggles, largely stemming from their past traumas. Skye’s life changed dramatically after a car accident while Dante was still grieving the loss of family members. Additionally, Dante had a father who was pressuring him to join the family business despite Dante’s desire to distance himself from that life. I couldn’t blame him; his father was a terrible person, and Dante deserved to live free from his father’s control, especially given the damage his father had caused to their family.
I really enjoyed the way Dante and Skye first met in the story, even though they struggled with their relationship at first due to complications, mostly with Dante. Dante, who has a reputation as a player, unexpectedly falls for Skye, something he has never experienced before. Although he frustrated me at times because he struggled to navigate his feelings, I understood his hesitation. Their situation was complicated since he had helped her secure an internship at the radio station where he worked, making their connection somewhat forbidden. If there’s one trope I love in romance novels, it’s the forbidden romance, and Sarah did it well.
I absolutely adored Skye because she was such a strong female lead, and I really rooted for her to find her own path after everything she endured. She deserved to discover her own happiness rather than simply fulfilling her father’s wishes. It took her some time to figure that out. I empathized with her feelings for Dante, especially since he seemed to lead her on at first. She just wanted to feel wanted for once. Skye went through so much in her life, and if anyone deserved love, it was her. Her story definitely impacted me, and I’m glad she had friends who were there to support her along the way.
While reading, I found moments of miscommunication between the characters frustrating, but they ultimately resolved these issues. It simply took some time for them to make amends. Aside from that, this book is one I will never forget, and I hope Sarah Castille writes more stories set in this world, particularly featuring the secondary characters she introduced.
Please be aware that this book contains content that may be unsettling for some readers, so it’s important to check for any triggers you may have. There is a mention of sexual assault in the book, but it does not involve the main characters.
Overall, I give this book four stars, and I’m excited to read more from Sarah Castille. Before I conclude my review, I want to highlight that this book does include spicy scenes (very spicy scenes in random places on campus). The connection between Dante and Skye is intense when they finally give in to their feelings for each other.
Single/Dual POV: Dual POV
Standalone or Part of Series: Standalone.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy deep, emotional romance stories about two characters who have endured trauma in their lives but find love with each other through their shared passion for music. You may want to add all the songs from this book to your playlist after reading it.
What to Expect:
🩵Contemporary College Romance
🩵Workplace
🩵He Falls First
🩵Bad Boy Musician
🩵Sports
🩵Forbidden
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About Sarah Castille
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Sarah Castille, writes contemporary erotic romance and romantic suspense featuring blazingly hot alpha heroes and the women who tame them. A recovering lawyer and caffeine addict, she worked and traveled abroad before trading her briefcase and stilettos for a handful of magic beans and a home near the Canadian Rockies.
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