I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book. For me, it was an okay read, I finished it and enjoyed it, but I wouldn't rush to recommend it.

A surprising and fresh read, given my track record with contemporary YA and Phantom of the Opera takes. The characters are standout and manage to not be impossibly frustrating to read while making questionable decisions.

When I first read about this book I was really excited about it, but unfortunately I was very disappointed.
The romance part of the book was extremely good, but a bit to smutty for my liking. I really liked the chemistry between the main character and the love interest and though it was kinda of a meet cute situation the author still managed to make it a slow burn.

As someone who actually listens to a whole lot of hair metal, I really felt like this book didn't capture the essence of the concept hair metal, but instead showed the prejudices and generalisations about hair metal bands.
If you don't know anything about hair metal bands and only care about the romance, then I guess that you would still find this book entertaining, but it annoyed me to much to enjoy the book.

In this gender-swapped Phantom of the Opera retelling, Erika is an ex-broadway star turned theater owner renting her (dangerously unusable) space to Christof's German hair metal band. This book is just pure fun. The best way for me to describe it is campy. Underneath all the fun, are discussions of self-love and letting go of things outside of your control. I actually really loved the ending because it had me on the edge of my seat.

I was familiar with the author already and figured I’d try out her new book. This story was more difficult to connect with and I just wasn’t a fan. I’ll say it was well written and does a good job fleshing out all the characters. I just had a hard time caring what happened to them. I believe everyone should read it and see if they enjoy it. It just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC

I loved this!
Definitely pick this up if you're a fan of The Phantom of the Opera but wanted The Phantom and Christine to get together.
I thought the role reversal worked. It was so interesting to see how each character reacted to their circumstances. I also think it made a retelling we've been seeing a lot of lately, different and refreshing.
The plot is similar to the musical but also different enough that it wasn't predictable.
The writing kept me engaged and fascinated with the story and its characters.
Would 100% recommend!

This was really more like a 3.5 rounded up. I was excited about the premise, as a retelling of Phantom of the Opera. For one, this book's sense of sexiness was not dialed in with.mine, which is generally fine, but it's really hard to convince me to find the 80s hair metal look sexy as described. And the book favored silliness and rock band drama over focusing in on the romance or leaning more into the gothic, both of which I was looking for. Still, I did get really swept up in the climax, even though it's predictable if you know the Phantom story.

Who knew that a completely unhinged, hot-as-hell contemporary gender-flipped retelling of Phantom of the Opera would be such a great book? I thoroughly enjoyed this romance from its dramatic beginning to its crazy, heart-in-your-throat ending.
The FMC Erika is the biggest diva and we love to see it. She suffers a tragic accident onstage, which scars her face and ends her Broadway career. She flees to small-town Nevada and takes up ownership of an old theatre (and brothel) she inherited (amusingly called the Paris Opera House). The author herself calls Erika "unlikable" but honestly I warmed to her after her downfall - she's a woman who knows what she wants, and isn't afraid to take risks.
Christof is surely one of the most amazing MMCs I've read in recent years. He's larger than life - the front-man of a German hair metal band called Nachtmusik and everything that glam sex-god role entails. Fond of eyeliner and not buttoning his shirts, he's actually complete control freak in real life, especially when it comes to the band's success.
Their chemistry and immediate lust is almost enough to spark fire - something that the local Fire Marshal is already worried about as the old theatre's electrical wiring is not up to code. Can Erika save the Paris Opera House from being bought out from under her by the local casino baron? And can these two crazy kids survive the ups and downs of their unquenchable desire to be together? Of course yes, but the ride is so fun.
The side characters bear mentioning too because they are so great, I'd love to see a book about Christof's sister Sibyelle.
How happy I am to have requested this ARC! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

I have so much respect for books that really commit to what they are, and Midnight Duet absolutely does that.
I was intrigued from the moment I heard "Gender-swapped Phantom of the Opera" as the early announcements for this book came across my Twitter. Midnight Duet does a fantastic job translating the classic musical to a modern, unique setting with that extra ounce of absurdity to make this a blast to read. This book is full of delightful easter eggs for musical theater fans and had me eager to pick out the next fun reference drop. It takes such a unique spin on the characters and the roles they play in the story. Erika is characterized with all the anger and misunderstanding of the Phantom, without all of the toxicity and possessiveness, that left me really wanting her to find love and someone who cares for her as she is. It builds exceptional sexual tension between Erika and Christof that truly pays off, as well. The side characters are so bright and colorful, and really add an extra flavor of fun to this book. This is perfect for anyone looking for an off-the-wall, fun retelling.

Jen manages to make the secondary characters pop off the page, they are funny and light. The dynamic between Sergei, Sibylle, and Waldo shines without overshadowing the stars, Christof and Erika. Her writing made me laugh, and then in the same breath the vulnerability of the MCs both melts and breaks your heart.

There is a little bit of spice throughout the story, but only one steamy scene.

I loved this book so much I was fan casting in my head and I’ve never had a story come alive for me in that way! I can’t wait to see what else this author has to offer.

I absolutely loved this book! I’ve been intending to read Jen Comfort’s first book, The Astronaut and the Star, for ages… I own it! But all the arcs keep getting in the way. Getting the arc of her sophomore novel ensured I finally read her book, and this was utter perfection! I’m so excited to read her first one now, even though I realize she says they’re very different in style and voice.

A rockstar romance is always a beloved trope, but this has so much more going in - international relationship, writing music together, former broadway star facing a recovery and huge struggles. The rockstar trying to move on and hide a breakup from his band mates, and write a new album while being so intrigued by the owner of the strange building they’re renting to practice, write in and stay in for the new album.

Fascinating and completely unique, and 1000% recommend everyone gives this book and author a try. Nobody will be disappointed! Completely worthy of a 5-star rating. Looking forward to a future re-read, in audio!

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Montlake, and this is my honest feedback.

As someone who saw Phantom of the Opera once around the age of 10 years old, I was a bit apprehensive about the premise of this book. But I'd heard great things, so I gave it a shot, and I am so glad I did. While this book certainly pays homage to the musical with tons of references, it's not necessary to be a theatre superfan to enjoy. The immediate chemistry between Erika and Christoph was electric and the cast of secondary characters was so entertaining.

The music group, Nachtmusik (fronted and managed by Christoph) comes to stay at Erika's failing Paris Opera House. Their first language is German, and watching them try to communicate in English to varying degrees of success was laugh out loud funny at times. Particularly Waldo's interpretation of Americana. These characters are larger than life and over the top, but still felt grounded in their emotions and motivations.

Watching Erika and Cristoph reconcile their pasts with their future was beautiful to follow. I pulled out one particular quote that I felt summed up the book best:

Christoph: Must there be a scene at all?
Erika: Yes! My heart is breaking as we speak, and a dramatic exit is my goddamn right as a practitioner of theater!

This book knocked it out of the park for me and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Honestly I love the story this book tells and I love the character (how fun would it be to have a German hair metal band show up in the middle of small town America) the thing I didn’t enjoy was the pacing there were some parts of the story where I wish we could have gotten more and then others that drug on a bit to much but overall all an enjoyable read

Midnight Duet was absolutely bonkers in the best kind of way -- this book knew exactly what it wanted to be, and executed it with perfection. The Paris, NV setting was so unique but visceral, and I loved imagining a disgraced Broadway star landing in the middle of nowhere USA with a chip on her shoulder and something to prove. Erika is my favorite kind of heroine: mean and knows it, but watching her open up to Christof and the rest of the band while learning to forgive herself was a real treat.

I don't usually go for instalove or instalust but I loved the way it was executed here -- I 100% understood why they were attracted to each other off the bat and why they held back on acting on that attraction. When they did come together, their chemistry was explosive and I was rooting for them to find a way to make it work.

The glamour! The music! The DRAMA!

I absolutely loved Jen Comfort’s debut The Astronaut and The Star earlier this year. I read it through Amazon First Reads and loved it so much I had to buy my own physical copy. I was so excited for her next book to come out and I was lucky enough to snag an arc for Midnight Duet and I couldn’t wait to dig in!

Midnight Duet follows fallen Broadway star Erika, now managing a struggling opera house in Paris….Nevada. And Christof, lead singer/guitarist/manager/accountant/problem fixer of Nacht Musik.

Comfort knows how to write a bitch you root for and a golden retriever you drool over. Her MC’s are a refreshing dose of unapologetic smart women who aren’t afraid to hurt feelings to achieve their goals. Is this to their detriment sometimes? Yes! Which makes for great character growth and development, where they don’t learn to become subdued versions of themselves but more emotionally mature, while still strong & independent. And her MMC’s are lovable, loyal, believably flawed and swoon-worthy.

And Comfort knows how to write STEAMY spice! 🥵🔥 My only wish was that there had been more scenes, because I’m greedy like that.

Listen, being born in the 80’s and raised on hair metal, this was 100% in my wheelhouse. I did not want this story to end. Comfort’s writing style is so easy to get wrapped up in. I wanted to stay in Erika and Christof’s little world and keep reading about their rock-infused, sexy fun times in the precariously dilapidated opera house/former brothel.

The only thing that took me out of the story was the very, very end. Without spoiling anything, there was a minor direction taken that was a little unbelievable and I think it could’ve been just *slightly* adjusted to make it more realistic. It was a little too “Sandy and Danny ride off into the sunset” for me. BUT overall, I devoured this book and am already clamoring for Comfort’s next one 🙏
Thank you so much to Jen Comfort and her publisher for the eARC!!

I really loved this one, way more than I was expecting to! Midnight Duet is a retelling of phantom of the opera and it really got me interested once the plot started to take off! I am convinced Erika and Cristof are the perfect pairing and you cannot convince me otherwise.

I’ve seen several reviews of this book using the word “bonkers”, and it’s an apt one. This is not a ‘down on her luck heroine retreats to small town and renovates a theatre’ book; Erika even makes wry reference to that trope. No, this is full-on glam rock meets musical theatre meets opera - high opera or soap opera, there’s elements of both. Erika and Christof are larger than life, flawed characters, sometimes teetering on the edge of caricature but saved by their own self-awareness. There’s supporting characters who bring new meaning to ‘eccentric’, there’s themes of fate and control and what it really means to live life, and there’s a delicious slow burn that builds to both figurative and literal heat. So yes, bonkers is apt - but it’s honestly not a bad thing.

Thank you to Montlake as well as NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Marketed as a modern gender-swapped retelling of The Phantom of the Opera I knew I needed to get my theatre nerd hands on Midnight Duet by Jen Comfort. And, boy, was it worth it!

Disgraced and disfigured former broadway star Erika turns to a generational dilapidated theatre in a small town in Nevada after running away from New York.

Cristof Daee is a German hair-rock musician aiming to find international fame after a long term relationship ends, forcing his eclectic band to turn to Erika for help.

Bonds are formed as the attraction between Erika and Cristof is undeniable, creating a rift between their professional relationship. Both with loads of trauma are hesitant to give in to the growing love for one another.

Great dialogue and with interesting character you can care about and love, Midnight Duet is definitely one to look out for on your shelves.

Self image and worthiness are big themes in this book, both done very well and written with a lot of care.

Overall, I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

How to even start? When I first heard the premise for this book I was like, "a German-hair metal band meets gender-flipped Phantom of the Opera?!?!?!" If that description gives you pause, ignore that feeling and pick up this book. Jen Comfort's second book is even funnier than her debut, The Astronaut and the Star. I enjoyed every bit of it, from the subtle nods to Phantom, to the hilarious banter and one liners (gotta love a well-placed This is Spinal Tap reference), to the hot, sexy scenes. But the real star of the book is the delightful love story between two seemingly hopeless souls that develops on the page like the beautiful duet that it is. If you are looking for a fun, sexy read with a charmingly ridiculous premise, this is one to pick up. Can't wait to see what Comfort comes up with next.

4.25⭐
NC-17 because this book was HOT

A smutty reverse Phantom of the Opera inspired romance?? Say less!! I was sold the moment I heard about this story and it completely delivered. If you are a Phantom lover and enjoy a slightly dark romance and theater and music, you don't need my review--you just need this book!

Erika is a rising Broadway star when a horrific accident leaves her disfigured, so she moves to Nevada to inherit a failing theater and lick her wounds. To save the theater, she rents the theater out to a German metal band who has a lead singer (Christof) who is attractive and in need of singing lessons (and also some light kink lessons?).

This was one of those slightly bonkers plots that just somehow works because of the inspiration from the source material and the heated tension between the two main characters. Jen does a great job developing these characters and creating some substance even if a few of the twists were too convenient. My one major complaint is that the ending felt a bit rushed.

If you loved Neon Gods and the following series, I feel like you'll love this too. And the Broadway Easter eggs were just so fun too. I hope Jen writes about more characters in this world!