REVIEW: Smitten by Lauren Rowe

Smitten by Lauren Rowe: Ally wasn’t looking for love… not at a crowded house party and definitely not with a stranger whose band she’d never even heard of. But fate had other plans when she meets Fish; quiet, funny and completely unexpected. What begins as a single night of connection quickly turns into something more. Between the long-distance texts, deep conversations and a slow burn chemistry that refuses to fade, neither stood a chance against the magnetic pull. The only issue being can they actually make this once in a lifetime connection work? He’s in a rising rock band. She’s just trying to find her voice. Neither of them is ready. Both of them are falling anyway…

I have to say going into this book, I didn’t really know what I was expecting but did Smitten surprise me in the best way possible! There was just something so gentle and soft about this book, there were small moments that had big impacts and two characters that didn’t need to be loud or dramatic to leave an impact. So to say this was not what I had expected from a rock and roll romance would be putting it mildly.

I have to say that I really liked both of our main characters, there was just something very calm and relatable about them. It was refreshing to have two main characters that were both so grounded and calm, there really wasn’t any major drama from either Fish or Ally and I have to say this made for a nice change of pace. Now let us just talk about our hero Fish, with a nickname like fish, we could already tell that our guy was going to be a bit quirky and that he was but in the best and most cute way possible. I loved his lame pick up line and the way their relationship started out in a very meet cute manner. All in all I really liked our hero, he was self aware, emotionally generous, and genuinely respectful. I liked that we got to see him be venerable and see him lean on Ally when he had doubts but also wanting to take things at a pace that she felt comfortable with. On to our leading lady, there was so much more to Ally than the shy girl that we meet at the start of the book. Our girl has a fire in her that she is just starting to embrace and I loved getting to see her come into her own as the book progresses.

I really enjoyed getting to see these two build their relationship in the quiet moments and really growing together. There is no big drama, no games or angsty tension between these two, it is just two people slowly figuring each other out, gently letting their guards down and building something that feels honest. And I have to say I really liked this change in perspective for the rockstar trope, definitely not what I had been expecting but it worked really well nonetheless. The fact that their relationship builds in the small moments with sweet text messages and late night FaceTime calls, only added to the ease in which they both start to lower their guards. There is no rush between these two, they take the time to connect and build a safe place that is rooted in trust and care.

I have to say that I really enjoyed reading Smitten, this is a romance built on quiet chemistry, emotional safety and the kind of slow burn connection that feels not just believable, but deeply earned. If you are looking for a sweet, meaningful read that has a really great musical connection to it then this is definitely the book for you!

Book Info:

Publication: July 25, 2020 | SoCoRo Publishing |

I met Alessandra at a party. Tried to impress her. Was almost positive I was going to fail.

I think I said something along the lines of, “I’m a Goat called Fish who’s hung like a bull—but not really. I’m actually pretty average.” Smooth. I know. Try not to be jealous.

When she laughed—and I mean, really laughed—I knew she wasn’t like the other girls I’d been meeting on tour. Hell, she wasn’t even in the same stratosphere as those fangirls and gold-diggers.

At one point during the party, Alessandra said, “There’s nothing like a girl’s first love.” I knew she was talking about the first smash hit by my band, 22 Goats. Alessandra said it was the first song she’d heard by us and it “hit her like a ton of bricks.” Ironic, seeing as how I was having the same reaction from being in her presence.

I made it my mission to impress her. Give her the kiss of a lifetime that night. But since I’ve always been the dude with zero game, nothing went according to plan.

I’m not giving up, though. I’m going to win this girl over. I’m done sitting on the sidelines, watching the bad boy getting the girl. This time, the nice guy will finish first. Even if it’s the last thing he’ll do.