ARC Review: ‘If Not for My Baby’ by Kate Golden
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If Not for My Baby
by Kate GoldenPublished by Berkley on August 5, 2025
SubGenres: Contemporary Romance
Format: eArc
Pages: 448
Source: the publisher via NetGalley
Audience: 18+/Adult
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It’s the duet of a lifetime when a rock star and his backup singer find a new kind of harmony off stage in this sensational contemporary romance.
Clementine Clark isn’t looking for love. Growing up with a single mom who weeps over a new guy each week tends to have that effect on a girl. But Clementine doesn’t mind being the rational one—she’s even buried her musical dreams so deeply within herself that she hardly notices the hole it’s left in her life.
That is until her best friend calls her with a life-changing opportunity: to join Irish megastar Halloran on his first US tour as a backing vocalist. Clementine wants to reject the offer, but the pay is enough to change her and her mom’s life. Overnight, Clementine goes from serving enchiladas at the Happy Tortilla to belting high notes before a cheering crowd.
But the whiplash of trading small-town Texas for sold-out stadiums is nothing compared to the rush of performing with the enigmatic Thomas Patrick Halloran. Poet, introvert, and lyrical genius, Halloran quickly gets under Clementine’s skin. The two couldn’t see the world more differently. And yet, over the course of the next eight weeks on tour, the romantic rockstar might just strike an unforgettable chord in Clementine. But will it be enough for an encore?
I’ve always loved Rockstar Romances, so I was excited to read If Not For My Baby by Kate Golden. The idea of a rockstar falling for his backup singer immediately intrigued me. As a fan of Kate Golden’s Fantasy Books, I knew I had to try her first Contemporary Romance.
Supposedly, this book is a fan fiction about Hozier. I haven’t really listened to Hozier’s music, except for a couple of songs, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story. Whether it is truly about that artist or not didn’t matter. While reading, I did have some issues with the book, more on those later. First, I want to discuss what I enjoyed most. The book highlights fibromyalgia through a secondary character, which made a meaningful impact on me as my mother deals with this condition. This representation made me feel for Clementine and her mother. Fibromyalgia, as Kate Golden demonstrates, is still misunderstood. I also appreciated the portrayal of Clementine caring for and worrying about her mother, which made me relate to her. I’m thankful to Kate Golden for bringing this condition to light in this book.
Clementine’s journey after being invited to tour with Tom Halloran and his band was another highlight for me. Her friend could no longer be a backup singer, and since Clementine could sing, she took the spot. Through this book, I could see how much Clementine enjoyed singing, and her passion was apparent to everyone, including Tom, who recognized her potential, even when she was nervous at times. She was a natural on stage. Some of the band members welcomed her into their adventures outside the tour, and a sense of found family developed as they grew closer. I loved getting to know each of the band members, even though some of them had ill intentions in the book.
Tom Halloran, the MMC, isn’t your typical rockstar in romance novels. Instead of partying, he prefers to go off on his own to read and unwind, which makes him refreshing to read about. An introvert at heart, Tom is also deeply protective of Clementine when she faces predicaments. I would have loved to read his point of view. Still, I understood that leaving it out helped preserve the mystery surrounding him. There was a lot of mystery to unpack, and I loved getting to know him through Clementine. He definitely was a favorite in the book.
Now, with that being said, I did have some issues while reading this book, with Clementine’s behavior in her relationship with Tom. Early on, it’s clear she struggles with commitment and is hesitant to fully engage in a relationship (I found this out immediately with another guy she was with in the beginning of the book), which persistently affects her actions even as her feelings for Tom develop. At times, her reluctance comes across as distancing, and it felt like she was unintentionally leading Tom on, especially when his feelings were so openly strong for her. (He did fall hard for her and it was obvious he liked her.) At the end of the book, there was a situation was made worse by a secondary character, someone whose true nature I suspected from the start, managing to drive a wedge between Clementine and Tom, having her leave him without communicating why. Despite these challenges, Clementine and Tom ultimately get their happily ever after, but it takes time, and it’s worth reading.
I’m glad I picked up this book, even if it’s not a top rating for me. It still left an impact I won’t forget, and I enjoyed Kate’s move into Contemporary Romance. I rate it 3.5 stars and recommend it to readers who love Rockstar Romances with an MMC who falls first and isn’t your typical rockstar.
What to Expect:
🎤Rockstar Romance
🎤He Falls First
🎤Forced Proximity
🎤Found Family
About Kate Golden
Kate Golden is the USA Today bestselling author of The Sacred Stones trilogy. She lives in Los Angeles where she works in the film industry developing movies with screenwriters and filmmakers. When she isn’t telling stories, Kate is an avid book reader, puzzle addict, and game night enthusiast which she hosts with her husband and puppy, Milo. You can find her on Instagram at @KateGoldenAuthor and on TikTok at @Kate_Golden_Author.
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