Honestly, I really kick myself that I have only just discovered this author, but as well as trying to play catch up with his back catalogue, I am also snaffling up every new release he publishes and was lucky to get my grubby mitts on this, his latest.
And. It. Did. Not. Disappoint!
So... Helen and Ben were young and in love. But then, just on the cusp of adulthood, they parted at 18. Back in the present and Helen is a single mum with two teenagers, a part time job as a primary school teacher, and a failed marriage behind her. He having swanned off to be with his latest conquest.
She has just packed the kids off with her ex to go on holiday (with her) when Ben suddenly appears on her doorstep. Dishevelled and downhearted. Which he really shouldn't be given that he is a mega rich, mega successful, rock star. He needs a place to hide, he has literally run away and gone to the last place he felt safe, his home town, and to the last person he really felt safe with, his lost love...
And so begins another wonderful, emotional story, told by the king of the wonderful, emotional stories, the rest of which I will leave you to discover as he intends. Not a spoiler alert if you have read this author before, but you will need tissues...
Oh my days. He does know where to hit a reader for maximum emotional impact. I was done when I finished this book. I don't know why I let him put me through it, again and again. But I do, and even though I know I am in for an emotional roller coaster of a ride he always brings me down safely. I took to Helen and Ben straight away. A credit to the author's character building skills. And then when the two kids joined in the game of "hide the burnt out rockstar" things really ramped up. I especially loved the way that Ben returned to Helen's life just when she needed a lift and that they could lean on each other...
This book was all the feels - especially anger - but I can't expand on that. But that's life... I'm going to really make an effort before his next book to ave at least chipped a few of his other books off my tbr. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Mike Gayle just keeps on delivering. I was a little worried about picking this book up because at he moment Mike has delivered 5/5 on every book and I just thought it was too good to be true that it would happen again, but it did! This was a fantastic story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.

Mike Gayle is one of my favourite writers so I knew I just needed to read this book. Mike never fails to write with emotion and gets you invested in the characters and their life. The characters have such good depth and you really get to know them and love them.

The storyline was lovely, unique yet you feel like you’re right there living it.

And once again, there’s always an element to make me cry. Happy and sad tears!

Overall a lovely read, once again!

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book, along with The Museum of Ordinary People, a favourite of mine
This is a perfect Mike Gayle novel. Mike Gayle really knows how to write an emotive read
Helen was a great character, one I really resonated with and wanted the best for.
This is a hard review to write without giving too many spoilers away
However this is the definition of perfect escapism and highly recommended for any Mike Gayle fans
This is a book I will revisit 🐦‍⬛🧡

A most infuriating book. Of course it’s fictional so everyone is drawn just a little to much larger than life.
Helen is a mum, now estranged from her husband, treating her 2 teenage children as if they were 6 years old. She romance with an old flame who turns up on her doorstep and struggles to deal with the fallout from such an encounter.
The ending is pathetic and not particularly as chocking or surprising as I think it is meant to be.
It’s a fast, easy read.

I loved this. My first book by @MikeGayle and it definitely won’t be my last.
A beautifully emotional story about friendship, love, heartache and hope. It follows the story of Helen and Ben who dated and separated at 18 only to unexpectedly meet again 20 years later. I was pulled into the story right from the start and I couldn’t put it down.
The characters are all likeable and very real. I especially liked the character of Helen, I found her so relatable.
It’s definitely a story of mixed emotions with an unexpected but poignant ending.
I definitely recommend #ASongOfMeAndYou. It’s an absolute page turner.
Thanks to #NetGalley @Hodder&Stoughton @HodderBooks for an eARC of #ASongOfMeAndYou in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 6 July 2023

I’ve been reading Mike Gayle’s books as long as I can remember and they never disappoint, he deserves his place on your shelf this summer

Absolutely loved this one! It was giving me northern Notting Hill vibes and it totally worked for me!

Helen is trying to keep what is left of her life together after her husband left, but when her ex-husband takes the kids away for the weekend and her long lost uni lover (who also just so happens to be a world famous rock star now!) turns up on her doorstep, the chaos is multiplied ten-fold!

Great characters and a sweeping yet moving story that was an absolute page-turner for me. And who hasn't had that dream that a famous rock star will turn up on your doorstep to take you away from your mundane life!

My first read by Mike Gayle and on finishing, my second immediate thought was that I had to check out the blacklist and read the rest of the works of this phenomenal author. My first thought was that I felt like someone has torn my heart into little pieces...such a heartbreaking read.
There is magic and faith in the story and characters that comes across as you make your way through the pages. Helen and Ben are just so beautifully written; their story inspires you to give life a second, third, fourth, generally many many chances and to take that leap. You might put it down to the right timing but sometimes life might surprise you in making that decision and forcing your hand in taking that risk you need to, for yourself. I was engrossed from the first sentence and can't help feeling that alot of people will relate to this. I am so glad I picked this one up. Please check trigger warnings before reading. Thank you @netgalley @hodderbooks and @hodderpublicity for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest unedited review.

I love a Mike Gayle book, so I jumped at the chance to read his latest: ‘A Song of Me and You’.

Helen and Ben dated for 2 years in their teens before he left to go to London to pursue a career in music. Years later Ben – now a hugely famous rock star - unexpectedly turns up on Helen’s doorstep. While she’s getting over the breakdown of her marriage, Helen and Ben find that their connection is still there. All these years later, can you go back to ‘the one who got away’?

As is always the way with Mike Gayle’s books, the characters are so well written I feel invested from the first page.

Not to spoil anything but there was a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. I was about to go to sleep, but had to stay up to ‘read just a bit more’. Always the sign of a great book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC.

A wonderful story of lost love recreated. Relatable warm genuine characters make this story a book that stays with you. Another hit from Mike Gayle. My favourite so far

It has been a while since I have read a Mike Gavel book and this is another fantastic read from Mike Gayle. This author in my opinion never disappoints. This is a heart warming story and a very emotional read and full of love. I would highly recommend this book, I couldn't put it down! Go get yourself a copy now. Thanks to netgalley & Hodder & Stoughton for sending me a copy of this brilliant book & to Mike Gayle for writing it.

Wonderfully emotional. I have heard wonderful things about Mike Gayle’s writing but had not got rotund to reading any of his books before.

A song of me and you is a lovely tale of life, love, family, tragedy and moving on.

Helen is trying to come to terms with her new life as single parent when her rockstar ex boyfriend turns up on her doorstep! As you would imagine this throws her world into even more turmoil as she tries to help Ben while also getting her life back on track.

I was fully invested in the characters and enjoyed the extra drama that Ben being a celebrity brought to the storyline.

A great read that certainly kept my attention.

I’d describe this book as realistic fiction. The author has done a fantastic job of creating imaginary characters and situations that depict the world and society. The characters focus on themes of growing, self-discovery and confronting personal and social problems. The language is clear, concise, and evocative, with descriptions that bring the setting and characters to life. Dialogue is natural and authentic, and the pacing is well-balanced, with enough tension and release to keep the reader engaged. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

another fantastic read from mike gayle!
an absolute page turner, heartwarming and heartbreaking he has a way of writing that makes you so invested that i’m sad i have finished the book
a great read and one i would definitely recommend

This is a heart-warming and fluffy novel about second chances and how much we change through time and experience. Helen’s character seemed a bit one-dimensional at points and I found myself getting exasperated with her, but overall this is an enjoyable read.

What would you do if your first love turned up on your doorstep out of the blue? What if after spending only a short amount of time together you realised that they really could be the one that got away…? And how about if they were the lead singer of one of the biggest pop bands on the planet?
Whilst newly separated Helen is trying to cope with her ex-husband taking their children on holiday without her, but with his new girlfriend; she has an unexpected visitor in the form of her first love, superstar Ben.
I’m not going to say anything else, as I don’t want to ruin the impact that this story had. But. Please don’t read too many reviews, just pick it up and dive in. Get ready to feel all of the emotions. It’s a rollercoaster!

A song for me and you by Mike Gayle is the second book that I have read from the author, and I loved this one too.
Helen who is in her 40’s is struggling to keep it together after discovering her husband Adam was cheating with a much younger model and they are now living together. Helen has two kids Esme who is soon off to Uni and Frankie who loves playing video games.
When there is a knock on the door, she is expecting it to be Adam, as he is taking the kids on holiday for a week. But when she opens the door, she meets Ben her first love that she hasn’t seen over twenty years. Ben is a famous Rockstar and now lives in L.A. Far cry from the days when they were teenagers in Manchester, where Helen still lives working as a part -time teacher.
So, what is Ben doing here after all these years? It comes clearer when she sees the news that says Ben has gone missing from the band. She agrees to let him stay and hide from the media. But it is not easy thing to do and after all these years do they have feelings still for each other. As things were left unsaid all of them years ago.
Thank you, Hodder and Stoughton, for a copy of a Song for me and you by Mike Gayle. I absolutely adored this book. It is a very emotional read full of love and heartbreak and rekindled love. The author never disappoints. A big fat 5 stars from me.

Mike Gayle does it again! Every single one of Mike's books becomes a quick page-turner for me. I get so invested in the characters so quickly that I just have to know where their story is going. This latest book follows the story of the one that got away, but seen from a very different angle. There are lovely, tender moments and such real examples of our inability to be truly honest even with those we care about the most because of a lack of confidence. I just loved it. I won't spoil the ending, but prepare to be surprised. Thank you Mike for another wonderful read.

Helen and Ben were teenage sweethearts but now Helen is a primary teacher getting over her husband's infidelity while Ben is a pop superstar and multi millionaire.
She opens her front door one day to find him standing there and after having caught up, they realise they still have so much in common.
Can they make this work? How can they navigate the obstacles in their way? Does love never die?

I absolutely loved this book....one of my favourite reads of the year so far. Such an emotive book where the author brings the characters to life in such a way, the reader really is invested.
Brilliant, brilliant book......I couldn't put it down.

#mikegaylethenovelist