At Santa Cruz Central High School, they called them the misfits, the outcasts, the weirdos. But most of us knew them as the Lost Boys…Miller Stratton is a survivor. After a harrowing childhood of poverty, he will do anything it takes to find security for himself and his mom. He’s putting all his hopes and dreams in the fragile frame of his guitar and the beauty he creates with its strings and … its strings and his soulful voice.
Until Violet.
No one expects to meet the love of their life at age thirteen. But the spunky rich girl steals Miller’s heart and refuses to give it back.
Violet McNamara’s life hasn’t been as simple as it looks. Her picture-perfect family is not so perfect after all. Her best friend Miller is her one constant and she is determined not to ruin their friendship with romantic complications.
But the heart wants what it wants. As Miller’s star begins to rise to stratospheric heights, what will it take for Violet to realize that she’s the girl in all of his love songs?
Lost Boys is a new series of interconnected, coming-of-age standalones from USA Today bestselling author Emma Scott, coming in 2020
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I adored the story of Violet and Miller. It was a delicious slow burn, starting with friendship and then morphing into something more deeper than love. Both of them dealing with their own home life issues. Violet is full of kindness and love, helping Miller the best way possible.
This was a fabulous start to a new series and I can’t wait to read more about this group of friends.
My heart swelled when I recognised something from a previous books of Emma’s, it fitted in perfectly. Just amazing.
The stories written by Emma Scott are such a priceless treasure to readers such as myself. Somehow, even during the toughest of circumstances, she manages to compose a product that flows so seamlessly and flawlessly. The Girl in the Love Song is the debut of a new series, The Lost Boys. It begins in the YA era of two teenagers, Violet McNamara and Miller Stratton. They met at the precise exact time when they both needed a friend to lean on and that friendship blossomed into the most important relationship of their life. I absolutely adored both of them.
Both Miller and Violet have their own baggage issues regarding their parents and love. What they share with each other is an open honesty that allows them to see the real sides of who they are. Violet has ambitions to become a doctor and Miller wants to write songs and play music with his guitar. Given how much time they spend together, they cannot hide their vulnerable side, which further cements their connection. There’s a turn of events where things become really critical for Miller and Violet makes a choice that has such a profound impact on both of them. My heart was stuck in my throat during this moment.
Teenagers have this innocence to them as they explore new things on the cusp of adulthood that is exciting and challenging. Emma Scott captured that vibe so well in the dialogue, balanced with frustrations and restrictions. When they started out as friends, they hung out one on one. Throw in the backdrop of high school and it’s a completely different social territory to navigate with other people thrown into the mix. Despite Violet’s rise to popularity due to her achievements, athleticism and appearance, she didn’t compromise her compassion or integrity. Miller, who was primarily on the fringe and mostly a loner, found his own friends and five seconds of fame once it became obvious what a true talent he was with music. The songs that he writes and plays, which the reader has the full privilege of listening to via Spotify, carry so much depth and expression. I completely devoured the drama, mixed signals and angst throughout all of this.
Their paths were moving in opposite directions, but they had already tied their hearts together. I saw how ambitious Miller and Violet were about reaching their goals so they could escape the confines of their current reality. Life doesn’t always go as planned and certain opportunities are too rare to pass up. I kept hoping they could find a way to make it work because if there were 2 people who were meant to be together, it was Miller and Violet. Miller’s situation had so many obstacles that constantly broke my heart and I was so eager to for him to get his big break to a life that he earned and deserved. But even those kinds of incredible rewards don’t offer the same comfort and warmth as having the support of someone unconditionally. There’s no doubt that so much heart and soul was infused into Miller and Violet’s journey that the reader can feel it, too. The highs and lows with lessons learned brought out so many intense feels and I enjoyed every moment with the characters. The themes of staying strong, not losing hope and being true to oneself always resonates. The last portion of the book really builds to a climax that wreaks havoc on the emotions in the very best way to guarantee a book hangover. Needless to say, one of my top favorites this year!
“He called me the girl in his love songs.”
What can I say? I’m pretty sure Emma Scott can write just about anything. The Girl in the Love Song first introduces us to Miller and Violet when they are thirteen and follows them to age twenty. Imagine meeting your soulmate at thirteen….these two do, but aren’t mature enough to understand it for what it is. So they do what any teenager would do…they pretend the feelings aren’t there and that they are just friends…good friends…but JUST friends. Time moves forward and eventually their feelings become too strong to deny. However, the world is still not making things easy for them. Unplanned events come along that destroy carefully made plans…because that is what happens in life. Things happen and you react to them. It’s all about how you handle the “reaction” that can impact the rest of your life.
Also, one must understand that Miller and Violet both had experiences in their life that made things difficult. Miller had some blatant life events that challenged and made his world anything but easy. Just when things would look up, another bomb would drop. Violet had some life altering events occur too. Her issues were every bit as difficult for her, but possibly not quite comparable to what Miller lived through. Even so, both of them had issues with trusting relationships due to what they had witnessed with their own parents. Suffice it to say they didn’t have good examples of healthy relationships. This all adds to the angst level of the book…which for me is a plus.
I must also comment that this starts with the couple being young so you have to understand where their maturity level is at during that time. I think Ms. Scott did a great job of maturing the couple as they grew up. It felt like a natural flow of events. In addition, I have to comment that even though this book contains a rockstar storyline, it isn’t the cliche rockstar story you might expect. There were events I anticipated happening that never did and I LOVED that. Ms. Scott kept this story fresh and unique.
I also have to give some attention to the secondary characters which I believe will each get their own book in The Lost Boys series. Holden and Ronan were fabulous friends to Miller and you are left wanting to know more about both of them. I simply can’t wait for their books.
“I can only hope she’s right, that all this heartache is worth it and that it’ll be beautiful in the end.”
Thank you to Valentine PR for the ARC. This review contains my honest opinions.
WOW! Feels like a while since I read Emma’s book and once again she blew me away with The Girl in the Love Song. I forget how much I miss the author’s words and stories. From the very beginning I was drawn to young Violet. She reminds me so much of Izzy (Emma’s daughter). What little I know of Izzy (that the author shared over the years), I see her in this heroine – the sweet, kindhearted, caring, eager to protect everyone, and save the whole world she could. I see a girl who would give someone a shirt on her back to make sure they are warm. I see a wise and matured young lady with amazing human spirits. I simply ADORE Violet.
Miller’s life is heartbreaking. Abandoned by his father at a young age, Miller and his mother were destitute. They were homeless, living in their broken car in a park and lacking basic human needs of food and running water. Miller also suffered from Diabetes. Without proper nutrition and healthcare it is life threatening when his blood sugar level fluctuated to each extreme. Despite all Miller endured, he never loses sight of who he is and what he wants to accomplished in life. Miller is talented, caring, honest, selfless, simply an extraordinary young man. Miller and Violet met when they were young teens. Violet found him sitting outside her window and invite him up to her room (very Romeo and Juliet-ish). They talked, ate, and hung out. Over the years, Violet and Miller became inseparable and best of friends. Things started to change during their senior years of high school when Violet and Miller realized they love each other all along. Unfortunately, the timing was never quite right. Violet and Miller did not want to risk losing each other over romantic entanglement. Their friendship is constant and most important in both of their rocky home life. Violet and Miller’s love story really is beautiful. Lots of hiccups, angst, and mis-opportunities but their love blossomed and it was beautiful to see. Violet and Miller are truly kindred spirits and soulmates. Every time I pick up one of Emma’s books I don’t expect just a simple love story with roses and sunshine. It’s always emotional and full of feels. The author also always leaves behind a few meaningful messages that is inspirational, profound and most likely will change your perspective in life. The Girl in the Love Song was an emotional story about friendships, first loves, coming-of-age, friends-to-lovers romance. Beautifully written as always. Simply magnificent!
Can’t wait for Holden and River’s story.
Sometimes in the midst of troubled turbulent times we are gifted the most precious beautiful gems which remind us that good still exists. These gifts reassure us that it is okay to hope. I received one of these gifts from Emma Scott in the form of a novel. The Girl in the Love Song is a well-aimed arrow that hit me straight in the emotions.
This bittersweet love story is a friends to lovers coming of age story that will melted my heart, broke it in two, then sewed it back together so that is beat faster and stronger than ever. This story contains the stuff of the very worst and best of dreams. It will lit fire in my soul.
Miller and Daisy are from two opposite end of the socioeconomic spectrum. One has nothing they need and the other everything they need to survive. They meet by chance as teenagers and become the best of friends. This friendship stands up to every test life can throw in its path. It gently glows, roars with raging forces dims to a single flame at times, but it never dies.
These characters are unforgettable and beautiful in their hearts. They absolutely were made for each other. The friends they make as they grow are memorable and make me long to read their stories in future novels.
The Girl in the Love Song is a richly-layered tale that is intertwined with heartacheingly beautiful melodies. The final song is the sweetest melody of all. Emma Scott has secured her place on the list of romance authors who are masters of their craft. Her stories will live long and cherished lives in the heart and mind of this reader.
Miller and Violet, y’all!!!! Lord, Emma Scott put my heart in a blender with this book, and then hit high!!!! It destroyed me in the best way!!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! This book was just brilliant!!!! I never wanted it to end!!!!! I am so very in love with this book, and these characters!!!!! I can’t wait to read it again!!!!
I love Emma Scott’s writing. Her books never fail to pull at your heart strings. They are the kind of stories that make you dissapear into the book and forget reality because all you can focus on is the story and the characters. She makes you feel everything they are feeling so strongly, and not many books can get that reaction from me anymore. But my heart was racing through a lot of this book.
“If we were all born perfect and wise, always making the right decisions and never any mistakes, there wouldn’t be much point in living, would there?”
“Life’s a journey, not a destination.”
It was difficult to read at times because I was feeling everything that they were in the moment, but I couldn’t put it down. The kind of books that can draw this type of reaction from me are a huge part of why I love to read.
“She was in every part of me that was whole and good, and what was broken in me, she had dedicated her life to healing.”
I loved this book so much. This isn’t just a book about a boy and a girl falling in love and growing up together. Miller and Violets story is full of so much more. Both of them have their own deep struggles in life. They are juggling much more than just their feelings for each other. I think the issues that these characters deal with, especially Miller, was written very well.
The character development was phenomenal as well. The pace of the book was just perfect. It moved so smoothly, and Violet and Millers transition and growth throughout the story was done so amazingly well.
“Miller and I ebbed and flowed, but we always came back. Inevitable as the tide and beautiful in the end.”
This book will captivate you from page one. Their story is a hard and rocky one, but it’s one of those that will stick with you. This book is so emotional and packed with so many important things and topics. Emma did a fantastic job with Miller and Violets story. I can not wait for the rest of the lost boys stories. I know they will be just as heart-wrenching.
*ARC Received in exchange for an honest review. All Thoughts and opinions are my own.*
This is the first book in a new series that follows Miller and Violet in a beautiful coming of age romance. The story follows them from age thirteen to adulthood. The characterisation for both of them is outstanding. The reader really gets to know and understand them on a deeper level.
The angst and teenage drama is written and sits easily beside the harder subjects that are part of the story. I loved their friendship and even though I didn’t always like the decisions they made it gave a sense of reality to the characters. I am always happy when a book follows a couple for years as we do in this case. The story is angst emotional and passionate and I adored it from start to finish.
The other Lost Boys are interesting guys who I’m looking forward to reading about .
Today, I was going to clean the house. Was being the operative word because I have barely moved all day. Not even to eat (actually I had a handful of pringles and a fun sized bag of haribo). I did manage to make pancakes for the kids’ breakfast which I consider a parenting win.
I had it in my head that this was going to make me cry big sad tears and throw my kindle at a wall. That my heart would explode into an emotional fire ball. I got through it without an explosion. I’m so proud of myself.
Miller, Miller, Miller! Age 13, in a messy situation and no sunshine in his life meets the girl who will love him forever. The one who will save him. The one who will be in every love song. Violet, the beautiful girl with a beautiful heart and the ambition to save lives, is my new best friend. The songs Miller writes are perfect.
I loved the supporting characters too. I can wait for more Holden and River. Ronan and Shiloh. I’m so excited to find out more about them.
Loved this book and the ending turned me to mush, without an exploding heart and a kindle not thrown against a wall. Now I need food.
5-
I am not a YA genre reader I can not lie, but sometimes extraordinary authors can change your mind and Emma Scott is one of those authors. The Girl in the Love Song is a sweet, heartbreaking, coming of age story of how young friends, Miller and Violet, navigate high school and the feelings that start at the age of 13. It’s a beautifully poignant compassionate friends to lovers read that also dives into many tough and compelling topics.
Young love doesn’t usually last but there are those extraordinary times when it does. It’s not easy or simple because the teen years are tumultuous and heavy. But there is also an innocence that accompanies all the teenage turmoil and Miller and Violet are right there in the center of it all. They meet at 13 and become best friends and promise to be there for one another no matter what.
There is a lot to this story besides young love. There is a major health issue, there is homelessness, there is high school angsty, and there is the coming together of people who are outsiders. I walked the walk with them and felt all their feelings. Besides Miller and Violet, I loved Holden, Ronan, Shiloh, River and even Evelyn. I know I haven’t said much about the plot of the story but it just such a sweet extraordinary wonderful story that I think it should be read without knowing much beside the blurb.
Emma Scott knows how to deliver the feels. The genre doesn’t matter in her writing. She connects with your soul and opens it up to experience all emotions. The Girl in the Love Song is wonderful and I recommend for all to read. It touched me and made me feel and I can’t wait for more of the Lost Boys because while they may be LOST, they definitely are human and want and need love.
If you love slow burn books this is it. Violet and Miller meet at the age of 13. The book follows them through high school angst and have a bond that cannot be broke. I also enjoyed their friends and hope they get a book.
„For a few beautiful, shining moments, he’d been all mine. Now he belonged to the world.”
Leave it to Emma Scott to make me all emotional! The Girl In The Love Song is a beautifully written, coming-of-age rockstar romance that gives all the feels. This story was treated with such delicacy and tenderness that I could feel it deep in my heart. Miller and Violet’s story made me swoon, laugh and cry, but most of all, it made my soul sing.
This book is a beautiful story about young love that needs to face such obstacles as health and bad timing. This story also shows how other people influence our perceptions. I loved the extraordinary friendship between Violet and Miller. They both are such a loveable characters, perfectly imperfect, kindhearted but flawed. They both faced different problems and you could say that they came from different worlds, but their bond was unquestionable. Their love was not easy, fate put their feelings to the test more than once, and the careers they chose for themselves led in opposite directions. But during reading you could just feel the power of their feelings and that they would fight for each other, no matter what.
In this book we’re also introduced to secondary characters, who (along with Miller) form an unique friendship. Each of them is lost in his own way and I can’t wait to read about them finding their own happily ever afters!
The Girl In The Love Song is a heartbreakingly beautiful love story. Emma Scott masterfully filled it with ache and mistakes, so reaching the happy ending would taste even sweeter. This book is full of emotions and I’m so happy that I could witness this epic journey. Highly recommend!
I love epic romances that span years over the course of its character’s lives. The Girl in the Love Song begins when Miller and Violet are just thirteen years old, and we follow them into adulthood. It’s truly epic, and it has an epic couple in Miller Stratton and Violet McNamara. With Violet’s unwavering love and determination, Miller is able to cope with and even overcome seemingly impossible odds. Violet saves him, sometimes literally, and that makes for some heart pounding moments.
If you’re familiar with Emma Scott’s work, you know to expect heavy subject matter and a need for tissues, but be prepared to LOL too. Miller is just one third of the Lost Boys, and the other two—especially my new obsession, Holden—add some much-needed humor. Holden’s book is coming up next and I can’t wait. I’ve already claimed him, so don’t even try!
As an added bonus, two of the songs Miller (AKA Emma Scott) wrote for Violet are linked in the e-book, and you can listen to them for free on Spotify. They’re absolutely beautiful, and the musicians who performed them channel Miller perfectly.
Like I say every time I read a new Emma Scott book, if you’re already a fan, you’ll love this one. If you’re new to her, it’s a great place to start.
Another beautifully written story by Emma Scott. By chapter 3 I was already in tears. A stunning coming of age story about two friends-one who seemingly has everything and one who seemingly has very little-and the lengths they will go through to keep their friendship whatever that cost might be even to themselves. As always with Emma’s stories, she brings to light difficult subjects that need to be read and understood in society while also showing us that having everything is truly subjective. Would you accept help when needed despite the cost?
The Girl in the Love Song I found to be a wonderful story of friendship and first love. I love reading and following Miller and Violet’s story. Two kids from different worlds who become best friends at 13 and follows them through high school and all the drama there. I love how Emma Scott is able to draw you into the story and make you feel as if you are there with the characters. I look forward to reading book two in the series, and see where the lost boys end up.
Life is a struggle for everyone. For some more than others. But I like how in this book the author managed to show you different sides of it. Different types of loss. How a good background doesn’t make loss any less significant. How money doesn’t take away the misery that can be felt. How popularity can still have you feeling lonely and uncomfortable in your own skin. Not just for Violet and Miller, but for their friends too. But Emma Scott also did a great job (like she always does) of giving us balance at the turn of every page. These characters are strong with big hearts. And even when they are teenagers, their maturity levels can put an adult’s one to shame. So through every crack of their spirit, there is always a light of hope. Represented by friends and plans to stay afloat.
All in all this book is very touching and I love that Miller’s problems were outside the box. That the author wasn’t afraid to show how bad it can get. I was a bit disappointed that Miller’s friends dropped out of the picture at a point, when I felt like there was a chance for them to be included. But it is still a great eye opener read that left me intrigued for how the next couple can be fixed.
Je ne savais pas trop à quoi m’attendre en commençant ce roman et je dois dire que j’ai été immédiatement prise par les sentiments entre Miller et Violet. Ils sont géniaux tous les deux, impossible de le lâcher avant d’avoir les réponses à mes questions et je dois dire que j’ai pleuré un certain nombre de fois…. Ils sont géniaux du début à la fin, suivent leurs rêves, pensent à ceux qui ont moins qu’eux et le final est juste magnifique !!
Well i did alright through out this book until the end i can’t remember the last time i cried so many happy tears and continued to after i put the book down.
This story was really a beautiful one i loved Violet and Miller they were just two amazing characters that you just wanted them to succeed in everything they did.
However it doesn’t always end up that way and takes quite a journey to be who they want to be for each other. Violet was one of the most characters i read and i absolutely loved that about her and even when times got tough she was there with her head held high working out how to still get where she wanted.
Miller was such a gentleman and i am so glad he wasn’t like every rockstar in books he was so different that’s what i loved most. I loved his heart and that he never forgot where he came from. I would not like to be in his position and for some reason it is actually one of my fears not having what i have now and i am a very lucky person and just loved how he wanted to give back.
This story had it all the heartbreak, the best friends trying to work out there feelings form such a young age, the friends that i can’t wait to read more about, Sam he was special and that ending ahhhh hit me straight in the feels.
Emma Scott has done it again she written such an emotionally charged sweet romance that i will never forget
The Girl in the Love Song is such an amazing feels read. I’m so in love with Miller. You really get sucked in from the start and get the feels with Miller and Violet. Miller is a amazing and strong. He will make you swoon with how he is with Violet. I simply love Violet. She has this caring nature about her that draws you in. She doesn’t even think twice when it comes to helping Miller. The love between Miller and Violet is beautiful. They pull at your heart strings so much. I love the closeness of the “lost boys” (to find out who they are you need to read this). Seriously this is such a heart string pulling read that you will just fall in love with. I really couldn’t get enough and so can’t wait for more to come.
Another Emma Scott story that is left me feeling a bit overwhelmed. But like all of her stories, it’s in the best possible way.
This story is different from Emma- it begins as YA (H/h are 13 years old), bu the bulk in the middle are NA (high school for the majority, and a couple years beyond). It has the expected high school drama including cliques and bullies, cool kids and nerds. But what I love so much is that that’s not the main focus. There are major socioeconomic issuers. There are major health issues. There are major family issues. There are friendships between the oddest of pairings. And as in all Emma Scott stories, there is love. And even in a YA/NA story, it is mature, soul deep love.
The Girl In The Love Song is compelling from the very beginning, right through to the very end. So MUCH angst, but only a little is from your typical HS drama. There are just so many times I feared for or couldn’t wait for what came next!