I’m seeing a few reviews calling Six Ways to Write a Love Letter “fun” and “lighthearted,” and while that is what I would expect from the premise and the cover, that’s not really what I was feeling when I read it. Instead of a RomCom it was a romantic drama.

The story follows Remy Young who ran away with his brother, Val, from their strict religious family to start a band. They signed with a label but were eventually dropped and Val hasn’t been able to write songs since he got clean. Remy is used to being his brother’s anchor and when he’s offered the job to go on tour with famous pop star Vivi Swan he’s nervous to leave his brother behind. As much as this story is a romance, it is also a story about the brothers learning how to live without fear of feeling like they are abandoning the other. I was a little uncertain about how the strict religious homeschoolers storyline was going to go, but it wasn’t overdone.

I read this book in one day and part of what made it so addicting was the setting of the music tour. The particulars of the tour, and the way relationships are built and navigated while constantly on the move were so interesting. Pearce also explored the costs of fame and how much planning went into cultivating Vivi’s image while she also fought to have some aspects of her life personal. The romance begins when Vivi and Remy get stuck on a bus together after a mixup and they begin working on a song together. The romance is sweet, and I couldn’t help rooting for these two as they try to navigate the press and professionalism and their relationship.

I started this review by saying what I thought this book wasn’t, let me try and put into words what it is. Six Ways to Write a Love Letter is an addicting look at the music industry and the crazy grind of touring for months. It’s a heartfelt story about brothers as they are forced to find out who they are when they aren’t together. It’s an exploration of a pop star who must always keep up a façade and calculate every move she makes. It’s a sweet friendship and romance that grows through music and collaboration. The writing is beautiful and the story is cinematic. I highly recommend reading it while listening to a good pop soundtrack.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ( )

My sincere thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion of it in the following review.

Vivi is a superstar. After her drummer gets injured just as she is starting a major worldwide tour, Remy is hired to fill in on the US leg of the tour. Remy and his brother have their own band and are really close due to growing up in a difficult home where they had each other's backs.
Vivi's life is crazy due to the level of her fame. She is constantly on edge. When she and Remy get stuck together on a bus, they start talking and he starts helping her with her new single. They come to appreciate each other more as they spend time together.

I was pleasantly surprised by this story. I am not that familiar with Taylor Swift, but I know enough about her that I recognize her in the character of Vivi. The progression of Vivi and Remy's relationship was interesting. I have no idea if things are really like that for a superstar. If so, I don't know that the money is worth it even though some of the privileges are pretty sweet. I could appreciate Remy's frustration with Vivi. I was frustrated too! The ending was cute with a super satisfying grand gesture. I truly enjoyed this book. ( )