Spotlight & Giveaway: The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

Posted January 22nd, 2024 by in Blog, Spotlight / 22 comments

Today, HJ is pleased to share with you Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka’s new release: The Breakup Tour

 

Spotlight&Giveaway

 

A rising-star musician has a second chance at love with an old flame she remembers all too well in this swoony romance from the acclaimed authors of The Roughest Draft.

Riley Wynn went from a promising singer-songwriter to a superstar overnight, thanks to her breakup song concept album and its unforgettable lead single. When Riley’s ex-husband claims the hit song is about him, she does something she hasn’t in ten years and calls Max Harcourt, her college boyfriend and the real inspiration for the song of the summer.

Max hasn’t spoken to Riley since their relationship ended. He’s content with managing the retirement home his family owns, but it’s not the life he dreamed of filled with music. When Riley asks him to go public as her songwriting muse, he agrees on one condition: he’ll join her in her band on tour.

As they perform across the country, Max and Riley start to realize that while they hit some wrong notes in the past, their future could hold incredible things. And their rekindled relationship will either last forever or go down in flames.

 

Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from The Breakup Tour 

When Max leans on the wall, I’m instantly aware of the small space we’re in. We made out in here once. It had been hot, the way many nights in the Valley are. Max’s deft hands had found my hair, the curve of my neck, my hips while I perched on this very desk. He played every inch of my skin like a scale. His lips were sweet like key lime pie.
Remembering how I felt wrapped in him makes me feel passionate. It wakes me up. While Max may have the perfect music-nerd image, the look suggests none of his natural finesse and heartrending passion in . . . other respects. He kissed with fervent devotion. His hands explored me like I was his favorite obsession. His fingers possessed skills not even the piano knows.
I remember it now, the recollection rushing over me. Despite how out-of-context the feeling is, how incoherent with his stiff manner, I don’t chastise myself for the warm flash. I’ve learned to fend off embarrassment or regret—they’re no use to me when I’m searching my life for songs.
Remember fearlessly, I remind myself. Feel fearlessly.
“It’s good to see you again,” he says.
I raise an eyebrow. “Is it?”
“It’s always good to see you, Riley.” His features soften just slightly. “That’s never changed.”
His earnest words warm me like no rave review or Pitchfork profile ever could. “It’s good to see you, too,” I say with no swagger. “You look good. You play beautifully.”
Sitting down in his desk chair, he motions for me to take Jess’s vacated seat. It’s striking how naturally he fills the space. He’s grown up, too. “The piano is a little out of tune,” he demurs.
I shrug. “Some songs sound better a little out of tune.”
“That’s not true.” He sounds scandalized.
“In the era of synthesized instruments, it is,” I press. “It’s like a live show. Sometimes you want the artist to mess up the lyrics just so you know they’re really singing.”
“You never mess up your lyrics,” Max says.
I wonder if he knows how much the offhand observation means to me. It’s just, lyrics are the whole point of songs for me. I would never want to mess them up. I choose every word carefully, much like I’m doing right now. As if this conversation, this reunion, is a song I’m writing for just one listener.
Crossing my legs, I eye him with curiosity I hope comes off casual. “Been to one of my shows?”
“No, I just know you,” he replies. When he realizes what he’s just confirmed, his color drains. “I mean it’s not like I’m not interested in going—” he continues hastily.
“Hey, no worries,” I reassure him. I mean it ninety-nine percent. Only the smallest, most guarded part of me is wounded. I’ve played for hundreds of thousands of people over the years, way more if you count the viewership of Saturday Night Live last weekend. Was Max never one of them? “I didn’t expect you to come to my shows.”
Max swallows like he doesn’t know what to say. I wish I could sight-read him the way he did me.

Excerpt. ©Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka. Posted by arrangement with the publisher. All rights reserved.
 
 

Giveaway: 1 Finished copy of THE BREAKUP TOUR by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka to US resident

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and post a comment to this Q: What did you think of the excerpt spotlighted here? Leave a comment with your thoughts on the book…

 
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Meet the Author:

Emily Wibberley attended Princeton University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Austin Siegemund-Broka, with whom she is author of The Roughest Draft, as well as several love stories for teens.
Visit her and Austin’s website at www.emilyandaustinwrite.com.
 
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0593638646?tag=randohouseinc7986-20
https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-breakup-tour-emily-wibberley/20032678?ean=9780593638644
 
 
 

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22 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka”

  3. Laurie Gommermann

    I liked the excerpt intro. I little info about their past relationship. Sounds like they had chemistry in college but the timing was off.
    I like second chances. Hope Riley and Max can work together and find their HEA in music and in life.

  12. Crystal

    Really liked the excerpt and it sounds pretty cool, interesting, romantic. and also sounds like a page turner, would love to read in print format thanks.

  20. psu1493

    The excerpt has made me curious to know more about their backstory and what made them break up. Looks like the story is a good one.