Cowboy Carter Meets Romance Meet Second Chance

A Black male country star gets a chance of a lifetime, he just has to go back home to face the love of his life—who he betrayed.

Hi Librarygoer!

I have a LOT to say about today’s review—mostly that it is perfect, raw, beautiful, and remarkably timely.

Small town romances are my comfort genre. If I’m in a slump, I’m always eager to grab a romance where the setting is a character and I get to watch a couple fall in love alongside a cast of characters that bounce between supportive and suffocating.

This Week’s Highlight:

A small town, second chance romance about Black country music stars in their Arkansas hometown. I will try my hardest not to obsessively compare it to the 2025 Grammy Album of the Year, so I’ll just say this: it’s great to have playing in the background while you read August Lane by Regina Black.

I hope you love it as much as I do.

-Aleia

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Reading Stats

Thank you to Regina Black for this advanced copy (I won a giveaway here on Substack in December!).

Note: If you purchase books linked below via Bookshop, a) I may receive a small commission and b) you’ll be able to support an indie bookstore of your choosing.

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Story Synopsis

Content Warnings: Death of a parent (historical), child abuse (historical, on page), absentee parent, mentions of SA (historical, off-page), mentions of alcoholism

August is the daughter of a world famous, world travelling Black country star (Jojo). Unfortunately she barely knows her because said world-famous mother spends more time on the road than she does caring for her actual child who lives in their small Arkansas hometown.

Luke has his own demons. He’s a broke, one-hit wonder in recovery playing at divebars to just barely get by. Then he gets the offer of a lifetime: the chance to perform at his country-star ex’s mother’s Hall of Fame induction. The only catch? He has to return to his hometown and face the love of his life—August—whom he betrayed by stealing her song.

He shows up to town contrite and apologetic and August … throws (lukewarm) coffee in his lap. Their “meet cute” after a decade separated is everything it needs to be. Explosive and unpleasant. No fake declarations of “it’s so great to see you” that no one really means. The tension is palpable and lingers for so long—I savored every moment of this slow-burn energy.

August hates the song that Luke made famous and Luke himself. So, obviously, she blackmails him into creating a new song to perform—unapproved—at the concert and threatens to expose him for his betrayal if he refuses. She hopes that this will be her breakout into the industry. Luke goes along with it, even though this could ruin his shot at climbing out of one-hit wonder obscurity.

It would help August stick to her plan if it wasn’t painfully obvious that there was something still there between the two of them. She’s faced with choosing between outing the boy who betrayed her or trusting the man in front of her.

Just the Tropes

If any of these themes, tropes, or microtropes appeal to you, support the author by pre-ordering now!

• 🚜 Small-town romance

• 👧🏾Black romance

• 🏠He’s coming home, she never left

• 🤐Big secret

• 𖠋𖠋𖠋 Family drama

• 💞🔁Second-chance romance

• 👢🎶Country music musicians

• 🧲Forced proximity(ish)

• ♥️Pining to infinity

Why I Loved It:

Art of Scandal felt like I was reading a novel penned by a seasoned author who was already an autobuy. I felt like I would shelve it alongside ten titles with her name already on the spine. After finishing it I scoured the internet because I just knew she had a deep backlist … but it was a debut! So, of course, I never questioned whether I’d pick up August Lane.

And it. Is. Phenomenal.

First, I’m in awe of the tonal shift when you compare the two works. August Lane feels raw and gritty in contrast to Art of Scandal, which makes sense because that story is in a world of politics and prenups (also go read that if you haven’t already—1000%, would recommend!) while August Lane is set in small town Arkansas featuring two characters who have always been closer to the have nots than the haves.

I felt this book in my chest the entire time I read it. I hurt for August and Luke at every turn and wanted someone to just hold them, let them be soft—because the world never did. Their flaws only made them more human and relatable. They tried, failed, and tried again. We get to see them struggle—not just with love, but with themselves—and figure it out without a blueprint for happiness. Or any certainty it’s even possible.

If a fiction book has ever taught me something, August Lane teaches about the forgotten stories of Black people in country music. There are so many things here that will remind you of the stories surrounding Cowboy Carter, though I know the premise of this story was created long before we learned of the genius of Beyoncé’s country album. It’s an old tale wrapped in a love story that both sneaks up on you yet feels like it was always an inevitable truth.

Like it was always supposed to be all along.

A beautiful sophomore story. I can’t wait to own a copy of every single edition!

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Books with the Same Vibes

• Reel by Kennedy Ryan - forbidden romance on a historical biopic movie set.

• The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest - a musician and the woman he’s been lusting after for three years. (See full review)

• When I Think of You by Myah Ariel - a second chance romance between two former flames. one who has made it in Tinsel Town and one who has not.

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Is this small town, second chance romance up your alley? Let me know your favorite in the comments.