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Set to Music

Negeen Papehn (Goodreads Author)

4.04 · Rating details · 118 ratings · 84 reviews

Dr. Darya Zameeni doesn’t have time for interruptions—in her ER, or in her life. Especially not from the gorgeous man pacing in her waiting room. With mountains of student debt, an ailing single mother, and a younger sister to support, Darya can’t afford to get sidetracked, even though they can’t take their eyes off each other.

Disillusioned Grammy-winning rock star Anthony ...more

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ebook, 400 pages

Published March 15th 2021 by Entangled Publishing, LLC (Amara)

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Average rating 4.04 ·

Rating details

· 118 ratings · 84 reviews

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Mar 15, 2021 Alex (HEABookNerd) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: couple-mf, genre-romance, genre-romance-contemporary, rating-5-stars-loved-it, 2021, advance-copy

Note: this books deals heavily with the topic of cancer and the death of a parent

SET TO MUSIC absolutely wrecked me -- it's heartbreaking, beautifully written, and unbelievably romantic. I'll be swooning over Anthony for a long time. Darya and Anthony meet in the ER when Anthony's younger brother collapses after one of their rock concerts. With a newly discovered heart condition, Anthony hires Darya to go on tour with the band and monitor Carlos. Darya is resistant at first but when her mother Note: this books deals heavily with the topic of cancer and the death of a parent

SET TO MUSIC absolutely wrecked me -- it's heartbreaking, beautifully written, and unbelievably romantic. I'll be swooning over Anthony for a long time. Darya and Anthony meet in the ER when Anthony's younger brother collapses after one of their rock concerts. With a newly discovered heart condition, Anthony hires Darya to go on tour with the band and monitor Carlos. Darya is resistant at first but when her mother gets diagnosed with cancer she realizes her family will need the money.

This sets the stage for Darya and Anthony slowly falling for each other while on tour and my goodness I loved these two. I was invested in their story from the very beginning and I so enjoyed how completely gone Anthony was over Darya from the first moment they met. Both Darya and Anthony are kind, compassionate, and loyal to their families. Anthony has become disillusioned with fame and is tired of being lonely and the more time he spends around Darya the more he falls for her. While Darya is willing to take a chance on Anthony she’s not thrilled with the media attention and she’s worried about what her mother will think of Anthony.

As romantic as this book is, it's also incredibly emotional, and at times heartbreaking, as we see Darya struggling with family expectations and grief over her mother’s cancer. This features prominently in the story, especially in the second half, and wow the way Negeen Papehn writes about loss and grief was so poignant. I've never read a book that so perfectly expresses how much you can love your family but also dread the expectations and compromises you make for them. Darya especially struggles with living up to her Iranian mother’s expectations and not letting her down. The guilt she feels is a huge factor in how she handles her relationship with Anthony and that combined with the cancer even leads to them breaking up during the “black moment” of the book.

One of the things I really loved about SET TO MUSIC is that even though Darya and Anthony have huge obstacles to overcome and there’s lots of heartbreak, we still see how much they love each other. This wasn’t a case of someone making a mistake or getting angry and breaking up; these were two people who deeply loved each other but didn’t know how to make a relationship work around all their other commitments and struggles. There is so much care and gentleness in their relationship and I loved that Anthony was there for Darya when she needed it most. Even when they were broken up he still provided the emotional support Darya needed during her mother’s last days. Their happily ever after is hard earned but so worth it. There's so much to love in SET TO MUSIC and it wonderfully weaves together romance, the burden of fame, and the importance of family. I’ll definitely be reading more by this author!

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Content Warning: references to Anthony’s father being abusive; Darya’s mother is diagnosed with cancer and undergoes chemotherapy which makes her very sick and ultimately doesn’t work, she eventually passes away leaving Darya and her sister grieving (everything is on page); Carlos has a heart arrhythmia discovered after he passes out suddenly ...more

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Mar 14, 2021 Jeeves Reads Romance rated it really liked it · review of another edition

There's a lot to love about this Own Voices rock star romance, from the compelling, likable characters, to the slow burn, to the heartfelt moments. I loved the opposites attract feel, and how these two very different people came together under unexpected circumstances. It was a little too serious, a little too emotional, and the Big Fight lasted a little too long, but I enjoyed this for the most part. Definitely enough to read more from the author. This hero has got to be the most loyal, lovable There's a lot to love about this Own Voices rock star romance, from the compelling, likable characters, to the slow burn, to the heartfelt moments. I loved the opposites attract feel, and how these two very different people came together under unexpected circumstances. It was a little too serious, a little too emotional, and the Big Fight lasted a little too long, but I enjoyed this for the most part. Definitely enough to read more from the author. This hero has got to be the most loyal, lovable rock star I've ever read about, and the story is both sweet and sexy.

The story follows Darya, an Iranian doctor who has been focused on her career for years. She hasn't had time to think of much else, so when a rock star comes into her ER, she doesn't have the typical reaction. Anthony is used to people seeking him out for the attention, and he's tired of the strings that come with fame. So meeting a serious, intelligent woman like Darya stops him in his tracks. There's an immediate attraction between them, and Anthony would love to have something real in his life. When Darya joins the band on tour to care for Anthony's brother, the two get closer - but life is bound to get in the way.

It's been awhile since I've read a book that was so inclusive in a real, meaningful way. The author incorporates plenty of Darya's Iranian culture, while contrasting it to Anthony's experiences as a Latino and a heartthrob. There's also a same sex couple, the impending loss of a loved one, and plenty of family scenes, which give this a distinct feel. I found the writing style to be interesting and easy to read, though there were times when the serious tone bordered on boring. There were a couple of lulls in the story for me, especially in the final act, which really threatened to bring my rating down. But I get what the author was trying to accomplish with it; that angst and emotion was always going to be a necessary part of the journey. For me, the good - the authenticity, the relationship, and the slow burn (yet still sexy) romance - outweighed the bad. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this rock star romance. ...more

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Feb 23, 2021 Rachel rated it really liked it

Set to Music: Darya is a doctor in her first year of residency, Anthony is a rockstar trying to take care of his little brother. Carlos needs around the clock monitoring, and Anthony wants Darya to be the one to do it. When Darya's mother is diagnosed with cancer, weighed down by thoughts of student loan debt, taking care of her mother and her sister, Darya decides to take his offer.

This book hit hard in so many ways. As some currently avoiding dealing with my own feelings about my father's canc ...more

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Mar 20, 2021 nick (the infinite limits of love) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, arc, contemporary, march-2021

3.5/5

This was a lovely slow-burn romance.

CW: cancer, death of a parent, heart disease, HIPAA violations

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Mar 05, 2021 Texas_BookWorm(Priscilla) rated it liked it

3.5 stars

Set to Music by Negeen Papehn
March 15, 2021

He was supposed to be off limits.

Genres: Standalone, Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Opposites Attract
Own Voices: Iranian, Mexican

TW: death, loss of loved one. 💔

This was such a sweet ,slow burn rock star Romance. We have the rockstar and the ER Doctor 😍 i so enjoyed both Anthony and Darya as individual's and how much they loved their family and wanted to do right by them. Enjoyed he slow burn in the relationship. Liked seeing a different side of ...more

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Mar 21, 2021 Jenny Q rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook

3.5 Stars. I almost DNFed this around 40-percent because, though I really liked the main characters, I'm not a big fan of insta-love, and even though this was a serious case of insta-love, it took forever for the romance to get going. Very wordy, kinda cheesy, lots of introspection. But I stuck with it, and I was glad I did. Very emotional. Good sexy times. So even though I had issues, rounding up to 4 stars. ...more

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Feb 24, 2021 Ruth rated it it was amazing

Negeen Papehn is a brilliant author making romance novels that are easy reading that flows by so quickly, when you finish you want more!!! Her writing is descriptive enough to see everything in the book like a movie in your head!!! I definitely recommend reading this book because it’s a good fast read but worth every minute!!! The culture in the book ads a lot of zest to the story and is a great eye opener to other cultural perspectives!!! I definitely recommend this book or any of Negeen’s othe ...more

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Feb 24, 2021 Stephanie Panach rated it it was amazing

I know people say this a lot, but seriously, Anthony Castillo is 100% my new book boyfriend. He is a Rockstar - but totally not what you would expect. Anthony is the lead singer of a band, but he really stays with things because he loves the music and the band is so important to his brother and friends. He truly is 100% dedicated to his mother and brother - and extended family in his band. It is clear that pretty much everything he does is to support them. When Anthony's brother Carlos passes ou I know people say this a lot, but seriously, Anthony Castillo is 100% my new book boyfriend. He is a Rockstar - but totally not what you would expect. Anthony is the lead singer of a band, but he really stays with things because he loves the music and the band is so important to his brother and friends. He truly is 100% dedicated to his mother and brother - and extended family in his band. It is clear that pretty much everything he does is to support them. When Anthony's brother Carlos passes out at a concert and is rushed to the ER, they all meet Darya. Darya has spent her life living up to her mother's expectations and trying to be the perfect Iranian daughter. She's a doctor who is starting a specialty in emergency medicine - and has absolutely no idea who Anthony and his brother are (she may be the only one on the planet who doesn't!).

Around this same time, Darya's mother is diagnosed with late stage lung cancer. It is a devastating diagnosis - which leaves the family financially unstable. When Anthony offers Darya an opportunity to come on tour with the band to monitor his brother's health - at three times her normal salary - she takes the opportunity to help support her mom and sister through this crisis.

Seeing Anthony and Darya open up to each other is just lovely. Seeing them support each other is even better. I'll admit I cried several times during this story - and I suggest kleenex be kept nearby. Its a beautiful story of finding the right person at perhaps the worst moment of your life - and also trying to keep that relationship going against the biggest challenges you could imagine.

Other things to love about this book other than the great, emotional story:
- the family connections - both by blood and choice
- the Persian family and culture
- the Mexican family and culture
- the fact that the band plays Latin music and sings in Spanish and English
- the acceptance of LGBTQ characters in cultures that are often not accepting at all
- the honesty of the characters about their situations and pasts

There is just so much to adore. And here's hoping we get a story about Carlos and Mike and Darya's sister - and I'm thinking Travis (Anthony's security).

I received this book as an arc from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own. ...more

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Apr 14, 2021 Lenore Kosinski rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

https://celebrityreaders.com/2021/04/...

I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

3 stars — *Maybe* 3.5, but not sure if I just wanted to like it more, you know? I was pretty excited about this one, b/c a) I LOVE celebrity romances; and b) ownvoices diversity!! But if I’m being honest, I struggled to get into this one…and keep reading. If it hadn’t been a NetGalley, I might have DNF’d. Which doesn’t mean it’s a bad book, just not a fit for me. https://celebrityreaders.com/2021/04/...

I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

3 stars — *Maybe* 3.5, but not sure if I just wanted to like it more, you know? I was pretty excited about this one, b/c a) I LOVE celebrity romances; and b) ownvoices diversity!! But if I’m being honest, I struggled to get into this one…and keep reading. If it hadn’t been a NetGalley, I might have DNF’d. Which doesn’t mean it’s a bad book, just not a fit for me.

The writing felt…choppy at times to me. I don’t know how to describe it, because I’m not a writer. But it felt a little bit like a debut book, if that makes sense.

And while I LOVED all the added cultural aspects, and getting a glimpse into 2 different cultures — especially Iranian since you don’t see that nearly enough — I will admit that at times it felt a bit too much. Not the culture stuff, but that she kept reiterating everything was Iranian. I kind of figured out some of that just because Darya was Iranian, I didn’t need to keep being told. Though I did need it on some things, so there’s a balance I guess. Hopefully it’s a balance the author will develop as she continues writing.

Darya was okay for me as a heroine. I tried to understand her Iranian mother guilt, and thus the decisions she made and the times she inevitably hurt Anthony, but it’s hard. In the end it made me dislike her mother most of the time, and I couldn’t help but hope Darya wouldn’t perpetuate those cultural aspects. But yeah, her wishy washy back and forth was just too much for me. I did appreciate how important family was to her, and I LOVED her relationship with her sister (even if I wish she would give Niloo more credit/responsibility).

Anthony was an absolute cinnamon roll. I loved how sweet and caring he was, and how completely unlike his rock star persona. But even he frustrated me at times. I thought some of his reactions to Darya were so abrupt and over the top, it made him seem a bit juvenile? I don’t know. I was glad he had his brothers (I include Mateo and Hugo) around to kick him in the butt at the end there.

Their romance was a bit riddled with so much other stuff, that I was probably only half invested. I think I was enjoying the friendship more than the romance…not to mention the friendships with all the other characters.

There was some unresolved stuff in the secondary character background plot, but I’m assuming that’s a set up for a future book? I hope so, otherwise I am not cool with how it was left.

On a final note, the blurb does NOT give you the right indication about how INVOLVED and INTEGRAL the mother’s illness is going to be. Like diagnosis through treatment through death. I don’t want to spoil it, but I also want readers to understand what they’re getting into. As someone whose mother has struggled with cancer, I had a hard time with how much this took up in the book. Hit too close to home I guess…

So yeah. Just wasn’t the right book at the right time for me. ...more

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Mar 12, 2021 Megan rated it really liked it

Set to Music is a romance book that follows hard working doctor Darya and rock superstar Anthony, who meet at a time in which both are dealing with difficult and terrifying family situations., This book invests in family first and foremost, and I found Darya's relationship with her younger sister Niloo and Anthony's relationship with his younger brother Carlos to be the heart of this novel.

Anthony and Darya fall hard and fast -- which often is not my speed (is that a pun?). While I really loved ...more

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Feb 23, 2021 CaraDico rated it really liked it

Dr. Darya Zameeni is an ER doctor in her first 6 months at a famous Los Angeles hospital. Carlos is a famous rockstar in the band Teneura. They bring him into her ER one night after collapsing on stage. With Carlos' overprotective brother, Anthony, by his bedside, she attends to him and ultimately diagnoses him with a heart condition.

This is a very sweet story about a focused Iranian doctor and a rockstar used to getting what he wants. Darya is asked to go on tour with Teneura to look after Car ...more

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Feb 27, 2021 Sara | sara.reads.too.much rated it it was amazing

Shelves: cultural-romance, favourite-books-of-2021

Could a book be any more perfect?

As a Persian girl myself, I never come across a romance novel with my culture in it, let alone the main character being Persian! So you can see how excited I was to discover that Darya Zameeni is the main character of this fantastic book and that the love interest is Mexican. It made my heart go pitter patter with love for the characters before I even began reading.

This book will forever be special to me for so many differnet reasons. I love seeing my culture bei ...more

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Mar 14, 2021 Jessi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars.

I requested this book because I love rock star romances and I was excited to see a more diverse version. Plus, this author was new to me and I always love discovering new writers. While there are some great things about this book, mainly the diversity of the characters and the representation they offer, I also liked how MC Darya was intelligent and confident. She knew she was great at her job and she w ...more

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Mar 16, 2021 pageswithpayten rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Thank you NetGalley, Entangled Publishing and Negeen Papehn for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
For fans of ‘You Had me at Hola’, Set to Music is the perfect book to sooth your craving for a sweet romance while still giving you depth and diversity. A hot Latino rockstar with a sick brother and a wavering love for the business plus a brilliant Iranian surgeon with a mother fighting cancer equals all the feels! I finished this in one sitting, unable to pu ...more

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Feb 22, 2021 Riding Reviewer rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jeepdiva, netgalley, invite

I'm new to Negeen Papehn and already a fan. Set to Music was fabulous.

Anthony Castillo, his brother and their band are the hottest thing on the music scene. Dr. Darya Zameen is the devoted Persian daughter her mother trained her to be and too busy getting her career started to worry about dating. Her mother's devastating cancer diagnosis has Darya accepting Anthony's offer to tour with the band as his brother's doctor. Can a serious doctor and a hugely famous rock star find love and build a rela ...more

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Mar 08, 2021 Erin rated it really liked it

A sweet fairy tale of an ER doctor and a rock star finding love. Darya is working the late shift when a young man is brought in with heart trouble. She doesn’t recognize him, but she’s the only one in the world who doesn’t. He and his brother front the most famous band in the world, and when Anthony, the protective older brother, shows up, he and Darya can’t take their eyes off each other.

This is the first romance I’ve read with an Iranian American lead. Iranian Darya and Latino Anthony have mo ...more

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Mar 20, 2021 A_Stylish_Bookworm rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: in-my-library, netgalley, arc, 2021

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for a copy of the book. This is a new to me author and will need to check out her backlist. This is a rock star romance with an ER doctor that meets due to Anthony’s brother’s accident during a concert. Anthony is so swoon worthy! He loves his family, is attentive and a rock star! As much as this is a romance, there is a lot of sadness in the book with cancer. I liked how this book dealt with my so much about family duty and the conflict from
that.

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Feb 21, 2021 RK_reads rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

A sweet and angsty love story between two people from different worlds - one, a rockstar and heartthrob of millions and the other, a young doctor who would go to any lengths to protect her family, even give up the one she loves.
Dayra Zameeni is hired by rockstar Anthony Castillo to join his band, while they are on tour, to keep watch over his ailing brother who is in need of constant medical attention. She accepts the offer as the money would help with supporting her family. What she doesn't ex ...more

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Mar 05, 2021 Allie B I Literally Booked Solid rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2021

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

TW: cancer

I really wish I would have received a trigger warning for this book. Let me preface this by saying that my mom is battling cancer and is not doing well. This plot line hit way too close to home and I had a hard time reading these parts. Because of this, I feel like my rating of the book was swayed by this. I did not find it realistic that a daughter would take off to travel around the country with a ...more

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Feb 24, 2021 Romance Schmomance (Malia) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2021, arc, contemporary, netgalley, rs-faves, rockstar, slow-burn, new-to-me-author-2021, 2021-faves, emotional

Seriously sooo many things to love about Set to Music, from the author, to the story, the characters ... absolutely EVERYTHING!

Negeen is a new to me author and the synopsis absolutely sucked me in! I mean, I read this in one sitting, I think that speaks for itself. With Darya and Anthony living very different lives, I love that they were paired so seamlessly together. Despite their different backgrounds, when it comes to family, there's a lot of similarities and where some of their vulnerabiliti ...more

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Mar 05, 2021 Olívia rated it it was ok

Shelves: contemporary-romance, arcs

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing me this arc via Netgalley!
I wanted to like this book so much. It had a cast of diverse characters and what looked like an interesting plot, but I just didn't like it. Maybe I've just gotten too picky with my romance novels, but this felt so bland and I was bored almost the whole time. ...more

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Mar 16, 2021 Shirley Frances rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2-review, contemporary, 2021, reviewed, ng

I love it when a book surprises me completely and I find myself wanting to do nothing more that read it all until it's finished and then beating myself up afterwards for being so impatient! SET TO MUSIC did that for me. This is a new to me author, so I didn't think much of it when I decided to give it a go, but I loved the cover and was intrigued my the blurb. Plus, Latino rock star! 😉

Both Darya and Anthony were great characters to get to know. I admired Darya's tenacity and loyalty to her mom. I love it when a book surprises me completely and I find myself wanting to do nothing more that read it all until it's finished and then beating myself up afterwards for being so impatient! SET TO MUSIC did that for me. This is a new to me author, so I didn't think much of it when I decided to give it a go, but I loved the cover and was intrigued my the blurb. Plus, Latino rock star! 😉

Both Darya and Anthony were great characters to get to know. I admired Darya's tenacity and loyalty to her mom. She may not have agreed with everything her culture/mom required of her, but she took it in stride and found ways to make it work for her, until she couldn't and found herself between a rock and a hard place. In a similar fashion, Anthony was content but not completely happy with his rockstar lifestyle but his loyalty to his brother and band members kept him going until he felt like he was being ripped in two--the man who loved music and the guy who just wanted to be normal. Darya and Anthony had a lot more in the common that what you could see in the surface and it was that connection that ultimately brought them together.

I loved that the author allowed the reader a chance to experience first-hand how Darya and Anthony's initial connection grew and strengthened as the story progressed. With candid conversations, flirtatious banter and heart wrenching confessions, Negeen Papehn made Darya and Anthony's connection jump off the page which in turn made me fully-invested in their story. I loved it! Of course, it also helped that their chemistry was explosive. Between heated looks, whispered words and stolen touches, these two made slow burn enjoyable. 😏

I also enjoyed the range in emotions throughout the story. I think it helped balance out the romance with the other events that were happening. I appreciated the lighter, carefree moments that allowed me to get to know Darya as a young independent woman away from her mother's watchful eye. But I also loved experiencing her conflicting thoughts in regards to what she wanted versus what was expected of her. As for the other emotions the author brought to the page, all I have to say is keep a box of tissues handy. This book wrecked me!!! Even knowing what was coming, I was utterly unprepared for the avalanche of emotions I encountered.

Ultimately, it was the fact that the author didn't go the traditional rock star romance route and that she brought a diverse cast of characters into the story that made this story such and amazing one for me. I enjoyed the camaraderie between the band members and how easily they included Darya into their world. But I especially enjoyed Carlos and Mike and I hope I get to read their story someday. I think it would be epic!

All in all, an emotional romantic story with the right amount of angst versus heat that will have you reaching for the tissues while you gain a greater sense of appreciation for where you came from and the ones you call family.

...more

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Mar 19, 2021 butterfliesandbooks rated it really liked it

Shelves: bookbub-reviews, kindle-ebooks-i-have-read, reviewed-for-readingcafe, my-blog

I’m not a big fan of medical romance, nor a fan of singer/band romances.
But this book has changed my mind (well a little anyway)
Wonderfully written, great supporting characters and a really solid plot.

Darya is a good person, a good daughter and the makings of a great doctor. Working a long shift at the hospital Darya is about to come face to face with a Latino Rock God! Well his brother actually, he’s in after collapsing on stage, he’s a band member, and it’s her job to assess his health. But ...more

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Mar 30, 2021 Christina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, books-reviewed, adult-contemporary-romance, giveaways, best-of-2021

Set to Music was sooooo good with a superb, diverse cast of lovable characters. The romance between Darya and Anthony was super sweet with sizzling chemistry. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate the swoon-worthy cover? Stunning!

Family is everything and it’s a huge part of what drives Darya, Anthony, and the story. I can’t speak to what being in an Iranian household is like, but the author makes it easy to understand how Darya’s culture and her mother’s expectations dictate the decisions she Set to Music was sooooo good with a superb, diverse cast of lovable characters. The romance between Darya and Anthony was super sweet with sizzling chemistry. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate the swoon-worthy cover? Stunning!

Family is everything and it’s a huge part of what drives Darya, Anthony, and the story. I can’t speak to what being in an Iranian household is like, but the author makes it easy to understand how Darya’s culture and her mother’s expectations dictate the decisions she makes even if they’re not what she truly wants. I do love how close she is to Maman (her mother) and little sister, Niloo. She also has her bffs as coworkers, so she is surrounded by a small group of family. Anthony has his little brother and guitarist, Carlos, his other bandmates, the crew, and his other family members. Within both circles are beautifully flawed relationships that have been through hell and back and still come out closer and stronger than ever.

Darya and Anthony were fantastic main characters and the conflicts they face are heavy-hitting kickboxes to the feels. Anthony isn’t your typical rock star. To the public, he is the bad boy lead singer of Tenura. In private, he is loyal, lives for the music and not the fame, and does what he does for his brother and family’s well-being. He’s a charming introvert. Darya is fun to be around and has worked hard to get to where she is professionally because that is what’s expected of a good daughter. Still emotionally recovering from a bad breakup, she takes a chance she wouldn’t normally take by helping Tenura and in turn help her family financially after discovering her mother is diagnosed with cancer. It’s not easy for Darya to make certain decisions (professionally and romantically) because her mother’s wishes and expectations are so ingrained that to do something else – i.e., give in to her attraction to Anthony – is illogical. Not to mention that Niloo isn’t coping well with the diagnosis.

I admire Anthony and Darya’s strength when at times they wanted nothing more than to crumble. They sacrifice a lot to go above and beyond for those they love most. The two lovebirds have a lot in common, which is why they fit so perfectly together in one sugary-sweet package.

I liked the sub-story lines as much as the main story line. All of the other characters made this story fun to read. This is a standalone novel, but I would love to read a book featuring Carlos and another featuring Niloo. These two need their own stories (post events of Set to Music).

Set to Music was joyous, captivating, emotional, and heart-wrenching. I highly recommend this if you love music and/or emergency service romances. This lovely story ranks high in favorite reads of 2021. So much to love and so many feels! ...more

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Mar 15, 2021 Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: rockstar, interracial-couples, arcs, medical-doctor-nurse-paramedic

Amazon / Apple Books / Nook / Kobo

Darya Zameeni is an ER doctor caring for her mother and sister when pretty boy finds his way into her ER. She's not particularly impressed by him or what is apparently his fame and adoration, but when a broody man comes in obviously worried about her patient, now THAT man is one she finds herself loathe to look away from. So when an opportunity presents itself to help her pay for her mother's treatments because of Carlos and his gorgeous brother, can she ...more

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Mar 08, 2021 Laura rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley, lgbtq, iranian-american, music, romance, musicians

I liked the premise of this romance, in that an ER doctor with an Iranian background, Darya and a rock star with a Mexican background, Anthony, get together, despite their slightly different backgrounds and completely different lifestyes.

It starts out as though Darya is going to fall for the brother of Anthony, Carlos, since he is the one that is brought in to ER. In face, she describes him as though he is going to be the love interest, which threw me off at first.

What I did like is that Darya i I liked the premise of this romance, in that an ER doctor with an Iranian background, Darya and a rock star with a Mexican background, Anthony, get together, despite their slightly different backgrounds and completely different lifestyes.

It starts out as though Darya is going to fall for the brother of Anthony, Carlos, since he is the one that is brought in to ER. In face, she describes him as though he is going to be the love interest, which threw me off at first.

What I did like is that Darya is very strong and independent, but I can't believe that she would go on tour with the band, while her mother is battling stage 3 cancer, but I guess we all have to go things for money. But, I would have thought that she would have been too stressed to bother falling in love, but hey, I guess that is the way it goes?

What I didn't like was the other musician, Carlos, is having a love affair with his body guard, Mike, who is also Iranian-American, but he is closeted. I don't mind that Carlos is closeted, but we never see what happens with them when Anthony learns about the afraid. Carlos is afraid to come out, and it is left at that. Later, we see Mike hanging out with Darya, because, well, they are both of Iranian decent, so why not? Sorry, but that just didn't follow for me.

I'm not saying this was a bad romance, but I felt the Carlos thing should really be better wrapped up. It could be a great addition to the story. And perhaps explain why Mike is suddenly hanging around Darya other than the fact that they are both of Iranian decent.

Some things that should be edited out, that sound like they come from a the era of pre-covid, is that Darya says that diseases aren't transferrable between species.

Also, a personal problem, I'm not going to gripe about smells, because that is in every romance I have ever read, but what is this thing about doing dishes as a way to relax. Is that really that much of a thing? I have now seen three romances that have that in them.

And I agree with another reviewer that asked for a trigger warning about the mother dying of cancer. Having been there when my mother died, it was a bit close to what I experienced, though once the morphine was in her system, she just never woke up again.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. ...more

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Mar 14, 2021 Sharon Moritz-rosenthal rated it it was amazing

I had never read this author before but it was an awesome story and I highly recommend it. Its a rock star romance but so different than any others I have read before. It is not a light reading book. It will make you cry and make you think and even make you laugh.

Now I feel this story should come with a warning so I think before reading this story you need to know it deals with the heroine's (Darya) mother having Lung Cancer. How they fight it but also the long process of watching someone you lo I had never read this author before but it was an awesome story and I highly recommend it. Its a rock star romance but so different than any others I have read before. It is not a light reading book. It will make you cry and make you think and even make you laugh.

Now I feel this story should come with a warning so I think before reading this story you need to know it deals with the heroine's (Darya) mother having Lung Cancer. How they fight it but also the long process of watching someone you love dying. If this is something that you don't want to read about I feel its important that you know it is a major plot point in this story.

The story features the Latin rock band Teneura, an extremely popular band and its headed by Anthony and Carlos and some of their friends. The story opens one night when Carlos has brought to the ER and he meets Darya who finds he has a heart areythmia. That night she also meets Anthony, his hot older brother.

Darya is one tough cookie and is a resident at the hospital in Los Angeles. She is Iranian and she meets Latin Hottie Anthony when he is concerned about his brothers heart condition. Anthony falls hard for Darya and asks her to come on tour with them so she can monitor Carlos. She only agrees after finding out how sick her mother is and that she needs the money to take care of her family.

A majority of the story was fun. It centers on her getting to know the band, falling for Anthony and the friendships she forms with Teneura. Interspersed with that is her love for her family and mother and the struggle her family is going thru.

This story is about family, The family we are born to and the family we form and who love us. Its about friendship and being there for your friends and supporting them as they confront the struggles and the life they want to live. Its about moving on and growing up and fighting for the kind of future you want. Its about life, love and the relationships we form that make us who we are.

This was an extremely well written story with a wide set of characters with integrity who faces the challenges of life with their friends and family. I absolutely adored this story but it will bring tears to your eyes.

I received a free ARC copy of this book from the author prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review. ...more

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Mar 12, 2021 Sira rated it it was ok

I was given an ARC for an honest review. Two stars out of five. (my rating system: [one star = no.] [two stars = meh] [three stars = okay] [four stars = yes.] [five stars = wow!])

This was my first book from Negeen Papehn. I was so happy to finally have a nonwhite female mc and a multicultural aspect/focus in this novel. The representation of common themes that occur in first generation immigrant households especially as an eldest daughter myself felt comfortably relatable. That being said the fa ...more

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Mar 05, 2021 Ani - Ani Reads rated it really liked it

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book! This did not affect my review.

Sometimes, I'm in need of a bad, smutty contemporary romance. Set to Music seemed to be just that. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the story isn't bad at all! Darya is a strong female protagonist who sees herself as quite plain. However, she differs from many other main characters in the fact that she has her priorities straight, and her looks aren't one of the ...more

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Mar 15, 2021 Just Love books rated it really liked it

Darya is trying to be the best doctor that she can be, but with mounting student debts and a sick mother her plate is more than full. The last thing she expected was to pack up and hit the road with one of her patients and his band. But with the amount of money that Antony is offering her to take care of his brother Darya can not possibly refuse.

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Family means everything to Anthony, so when his brother passes put at a concert it's a no brainer rushing him to the er, but Anthony was definitely no ...more

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About Negeen Papehn

Negeen Papehn

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Negeen Papehn was born and raised in southern California, where she currently lives with her husband and two rambunctious boys. She wasn’t always a writer. A graduate of USC dental school, Negeen spends half of her week with patients and the other half in front of her laptop. In the little time she finds in between, she loves to play with her boys, go wine tasting with her friends, throw parties, ...more