Drive (The Bittersweet Symphony Duet)

‘Love doesn’t die, even when you stop feeding it. There is no expiration date on the ache of missing someone you shared your heart, life and body with.’ We didn’t come up for air, not even once, whilst we read Drive, it was absolutely everything we love in a rock star romance. The music element was superb and so passionately written with the chapter songs being spot on for drawing out every heartfelt emotion from us. This book became the air we breathed for every second, minute and hour we spent with it. It left us with achy exhausted hearts upon finishing, as if we’d run a marathon of emotions with hurdles thrown in to test our strength and emotional stamina. An epic slow burn romance of grand proportion which highlighted the inner most rawness found in humanity suffused in music. It was extraordinary, vividly astounding and so intensely passionate we feel as if our souls have been forever touched by Kate Stewart. There’s no doubt; this is our all-time favourite Kate Stewart book, her heart is unquestionably entwined in the pages; we felt its beat pounding as we read reaching an almighty crescendo. ‘I sometimes wished I had a foggy memory. That I couldn’t remember the details, the dates, the story. It was both my gift and my curse. And music was my navigation. I had followed the music my whole life. My guidance, my protection, my ammunition….music was loyal and stayed with me, my constant, my comfort and at times my enabler.’ Now, we have read copious rock star romances yet can only count on one hand those that stand out for nailing both the musical aspect as well as the romance, which is what we look for in this much loved genre. It’s usually one or the other that supersedes, rarely both. However, Drive managed to excel at both. The music and its poignancy, the struggling artist to stardom, the fragile romance in a fickle world of uncertainty and personal tragedies. It was all there. But not only was this aspect of Drive perfection, so were the all-encompassing characters. ‘I used to think I was cursed for having fallen in love with two men. But, in hindsight, I realized what a gift it was. They were my lovers, my teachers, my best friends, and I would love them both until I took my last breath.’ It is not often you find such depth and character growth in a standalone novel, however this Author had us believing in every single character, their back story, their hope, their dreams and the truth in their hearts. We felt and truly saw the turning of years in their actions, behaviours and emotions. The maturity and sustained love that grew in strength. ‘Heartache has the most annoying sound. It’s an echo. An echo of heartbeats stuck on a loop.’ Drive is a difficult read emotionally yet it’s also full of humour, heat and intense frustration. It’s a love story, a love story that had us agonising because such an all-encompassing love can come more than once but the truest soul mate kind of love is the most wondrous of them all. We fell in love with Stella, we watched her, followed her as she went through the years growing into a beautiful butterfly through soul searching self-discovery. She always had a joie de vivre with a dash of naivety, even under dire circumstances, yet she had an abundance of hope. She knew what she wanted, she knew the greatness in store for the people she loved. She lived life glass half full. Her passion being music, finding new talent and bringing that talent to the people through her writing. “I never forgot you, Stella. Not you, not us, not any of it.” Our hearts embraced Stella as we lived her journey alongside her whilst her heart fell in love with two very different but amazing self-sacrificing men in their own right, two men who stole our hearts too. Only one tortured and troubled man stole a piece of her soul as well as her heart, never to give it back. This is where we proclaim Drive to be an epic music love story; because it truly was. One where tears were shed for everyone involved, shivers were felt and hearts were broken and subsequently mended. It was a truly magnificent experience which pulls no punches and we loved every phenomenal moment of it. ‘Because music is the heart’s greatest librarian. A few notes had the ability to transport me back in time, and to the most painful places. Take any song from the Rolodex of your life and you can pin it to a memory. It translates, resonates, and there it will remain.’ We urge you to pick this book up and as you read, listen to the chapter songs. Your emotions will already be heightened from this Authors magnificent words alone –however- with the music they become overwhelmingly alive and take your heart and soul to a whole new unique and incredible place. Mind your hearts because you’re sure to lose them to Stella, Reid and Nate. ‘Look up, Stella.’

Drive by Kate Stewart is an emotional rollercoaster, and the audiobook amplifies that journey beautifully. This love triangle is one of the most devastatingly well-executed stories I’ve encountered. What makes it even more heart-wrenching is how much I genuinely loved both male characters, which made choosing a “side” nearly impossible. Stewart captures the complexity of love, timing, and personal growth so vividly that you can’t help but feel every ounce of passion, heartbreak, and hope. Stella’s journey is captivating as we follow her dreams, setbacks, and the choices that define her relationships and future. The musical elements woven throughout the story amplify the emotions, making every pivotal scene even more impactful. Each chapter feels like a song on a mixtape, layered with meaning and intensity. The angst in this book is palpable—it’s brimming with longing, missed opportunities, and moments that leave your heart aching. The audiobook narration is exceptional. Wenn Ross and Kia Kennicott deliver a dual-style performance that perfectly captures the raw emotions and distinct perspectives of the characters. Their voices bring authenticity and depth to the story, enhancing the listening experience. The pacing and delivery ensure that every emotional beat lands just right, immersing the listener completely. This is a story that stays with you long after the last chapter, and the audiobook only elevates its emotional impact. Whether you’re reading or listening, Drive hits every note perfectly.

Drive by Kate Stewart 5 stars!!! “You have to wait one minute past desperation...” To be honest, 5 stars is not enough for this book. Out of the thousands and thousands of books I have read I have two all-time favourites that I recommend to anyone who will listen. These two books have been on that list for a long time with no stand out books that have deserved to match them…until now. I have read this book three times already, three times this book has destroyed me and each time of reading, despite knowing what is coming, it hurt just as much as the first. That is testament to this authors innate ability to master emotion. With a Kate Stewart read you experience everything, she immerses you into the lives of her characters so naturally and absolutely that when they hurt, you hurt. You take her characters into your heart and soul, you live and breathe their love, their pain, their highs and their lows, they smile you smile, they love you love. I experienced this like life itself, it felt real, and despite the many highs, the lows hurt like a beetch. “You can’t go beating up everyone that pisses you off. Use your words, I promise you they are much better weapons. But be careful with them because bruises heal.” For me, this was one of those EPIC reads. One of those reads that you will remember for a lifetime, a book that I will read time and time again and one that will never age. I know I am harping on about the tears I spilled, but for me, emotion is everything. I am an emotional reader, I have to live and breathe a book to truly connect with the characters and when a book truly destroys me, the way that this book did, it deserves ALL the PRAISE. I am trying to convey just how special this book was. This book is one of my unicorns, I am now the proud owner of three. “Even in hindsight, with all your mistakes disappearing in the distance, the things you got right are right alongside them. I’d made the mistake in only looking for the hurt…” Drive is an epic journey of self-discovery, life lessons, love lessons and everything else in between. Music plays a huge part in this book, for all the characters, and if you experience this book the interactive way, by clicking on the music link on each chapter heading you will only fall deeper into the Kate Stewart abyss and truly experience this book heart, mind, body and soul. The balance and flow of this book was PERFECT. Angst in spades, but more importantly heat and passion, laughs, a lot of love and that all-encompassing emotion. “Welcome to adulthood…It effing sucks here.” This book was captivating from start to finish as you live Stella’s life as she tries to find her place in the world. We start in the present but Kate Stewart soon takes us back to how Stella, became Stella. Stella was a journalist and her specialty was music. Her father in particular had born her love of music and music was her blood, her life line, her de-stress, her true love. Stella wasn’t Stella without her music. Along her travels, making her mark and discovering new talent we also follow Stella’s love life which is full of highs and lows and this is where Kate Stewart comes into her own. Kate Stewart always writes fantastic hero’s and with Drive there is more than one to choose from and I dare anybody not to fall in love with them both. This is not a love triangle per se, there is no cheating, just one heck of an all-encompassing love story, that will have your heart beating a mile minute, the tears plentiful and the highs far outweighing the lows. “When it came to the men in my life, my emotions were my kryptonite, and so was my indecision.” Stella was an amazing heroine, it is rare for me to love a heroine as much as the hero but with Stella she wore her heart on her sleeve, she was an open book, opinionated, sassy but vulnerable with her charming personality a mask for the naïve and fearful woman underneath. As this book progresses though you witness Stella’s metamorphosis to the strong, independent, yet still extremely lovable woman she becomes. Her journey was tough and hard fought, there were no winners and losers, Kate Stewart brought this book to a close perfectly. “Because music is the heart’s greatest librarian. A few notes had the ability to transport me back in time, and to the most painful places.” As I said above, this is more than a book, it is an experience, like a movie that you are watching in glorious technicolour. It will infuriate you, it will make you laugh, it will make you cry, but at the end, even though you will be physically and emotionally exhausted you can only look back in stunned silence and wonder what the hell you had just read. This is by far my favourite Kate Stewart book. This author truly outdid herself with one hell of a memorable book, one that as I said before I will read time and time again. This is a slow burn, as Kate Stewart sets the scene, but once this book comes into its own around the 40% mark there is no going back. Captivating and unputdownable this is definitely a book you should read with a glass of wine, a huge bar of chocolate and a box of Kleenex, especially if you are a soft sap like me. “Money used to be the whole effing problem and now it can’t solve anything.” I could harp on about this book forever, but then it will just be boring, so all I am going to say is READ IT. Experience this as the author intended, go in blind and live, breathe and feel this book, it is truly AMAZING!! “I used to think I was cursed for having fallen in love with two men. But, in hindsight, I realized what a gift it was. They were my lovers, my teachers, my best friends, and I would love them both until I took my last breath.”

I'm a big fan of Kate Stewart. The Ravenhood series was my absolut highlight. I'm so addicted to this series and I haven't been able to forget about it to this day. So it was not a question, but a must to read DRIVE. And I absolutly love this book. This book is so full of truths, obstacles and hopes. A women who never gets over her first and so intense love. Reid. OMG i love this character and his development. Reid was so lost and hopeless. Stella never gave up on him and believed in him so strongly. Their love lasted short but was so deep. Almost at the same time she met Nate, her future handsome employer. After Reid left her to supprt his alcoholic parents, Stella an Nate get closer. Nate fell in love with her first and Stella gave him a chance, although she could never forget Reid. Their love was also honest and safe, but nevertheless Reid was in her mind. Until the end we don't know which love will win. Will she choose Reid, Nate or her passion the music.

The Bittersweet Symphony Duet* - SPOILER It's 3:30AM and I've just finished Reverse the second book of this series. I could not put this book down with the anxiety to know that everything was going to be OK. Only in the last chapters of the book I could finally breathe with the realisation that this love story was going to have the ending that it deserved. The rollercoaster of emotions I felt reading this book has brought me to tears once again while writing this thank you. Listening to the playlist once again remembering every chapter and every struggle and victory. I have not felt such feelings for so long while reading a book, the music also had a very big role in this journey. Being a music lover myself the carefulness of every chapter being accompanied by song made this all so beautiful to witness. I would have to say that my favourite part would have to be chapter 19 - The elevator. The music accompanying this chapter totally shattered me, bringing us into their intimate world and all that they are feeling while listening to the music and saying everything with just a look in their eyes. The spice in this book was also a whole other level, so intimate and beautiful, you could feel the connection between the two main characters, so well done. The duet as a whole was 5 stars one book cannot be read without the other. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5

This book is absolutely amazing. Never read a writer that can make you fall in love with two men at the same time. Not a RH. Just a heartwarming/ heartbreakingly beautiful story. The book also arrived in perfect condition. Wrapped and dust free

Wow, I'm kind of lost for words and full to the brim of thoughts and emotions after finishing this incredible story - I can honestly say it's one of the best books I've ever read. The way it's written, the characters I have fallen in love with throughout - Stella, Reid and Nate as well as several side characters, the best friends Ben and Lexi, the way it intertwines with the music. We see and feel the love and passion, pain and hurt, tough decisions and the heartbreak and loss of all three as Stella learns to accept that to be ultimately happy, sometimes you have to let go of it all and trust yourself and your dreams. Stella's heart felt journey unfolds to her play list, the songs that mean so much, bringing back the memories of the key times that shaped her life, as she drives the long route home to the man who will always be waiting, no matter what. “I want you to know I respect your decision. I hate being the bigger man because that means I . . .” He exhaled. “Lose you. But you have to know I never wanted to see those tears. I’m done hurting you.” “I know.” “I love you, always, no matter what. You need to know that.” Reid or Nate, Nate or Reid? Two beautiful men who would love forever. The soulful, talented rock star who's had to overcome so many demons to become the man he wants to be and knows Stella deserves, or the hardworking gorgeous writer who also overcame so much and gave Stella so many of her dreams. What a journey!! I had my hopes even though I knew I would hurt for the man she left behind, but I never knew for sure how this would end, how the music would play out, until it did. My tears fell for the last few chapters, but it ended with tears and smiles combined as mine, Stella, Reid and Nate's heart was put lovingly back together. Absolutely fantastic Kate Stewart, if I could give more than 5 stars I would. This book is going to remain strongly in my thoughts for a very long time.

It is safe to say that I'm addicted to Kate's stories. I went through so many emotions with this story, felt like I was right there with Stella feeling everything she was feeling. Reid Crowne, I felt for him the moment he was introduced. He was Stella's sister's best friend. None of them liked each other and we're always bickering, but isn't what they say there's a fine line between love and hate and these two were the example of it. Nate, my other baby, I loved him too. He was everything genuine, kind and good for Stella. He became her best friend and lover. He was everything nice. Stella fell in love with both of them and the woman went through too much. I connected with Stella so much. She felt too much and it nearly cost her, her life. She had to choose between the two men she loved and I'm not going to say whether it was right or not bc she got the ending she deserved and as said by many there is no right or wrong when it comes to love. So, hop on to see her love/life journey which was full of heartache and happy moments and also includes her flaws, the mistakes she made and how she corrected them. Also, there was music a lot of music. I'm so excited and terrified to read the next book.