Drive (The Bittersweet Symphony Duet) Paperback – October 13, 2017

‘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.

OMG, this book. I don’t even know where to begin. I finished this book yesterday and I am still a jumble of emotions and I can’t stop thinking about it! Kate Stewart completely owned me with this book. Her writing is flawless, her characters are unforgettable, and her story is captivating and masterfully told. It’s such an incredible read, and I absolutely loved it!I’m admitting upfront that I was slightly terrified diving into this book because I knew it was an angsty love triangle story, and I usually avoid those. But with the announcement of a follow-up, second-general novel, Repeat, I knew it was time, and I just happened to be in the mood for a book like this, and God, I was so ready for it!Stella has just nailed the biggest win of her career, and she’s riding the well-deserved high when she receives a phone call with surprising news. It rocks her - big time - and she decides that rather than take her booked flight back home, she’ll drive, giving her some time to think. Over the course of Stella’s road trip, she thinks back on her life, and we see her story from when she moved to Texas as a passionate young music lover who is just starting out in her career, desperate to experience all the music that Austin has to offer, and become a music journalist.We follow Stella over the years as she follows her dream, finds her place, and meets two amazing men who both have a huge impact on her life. We get not one, but two love stories in this book as we watch Stella experience life, love, relationships, and above all, the music that is a part of her soul. It’s heartwrenching, dramatic and emotional, but it’s also witty, sexy and so entertaining. I adored Stella, I loved her journey, I love her passion for music and, like her, I fell completely for the two men in her life.Reid and Nate… *dreamy sigh*. Both very different men, but both right for Stella in their own ways. They love her so much, they teach her so much about herself and her relationships with both men are fun intense, passionate and full of chemistry. She, and I, fell completely for both of them, and I had no idea how it was all going to unfold, and no idea how I even wanted it to unfold, but it’s so clever as we experience her journey with her, not knowing until the very end how her story ends, and who she finds her happy ending with.Her story is real and raw, and I felt everything along with her. I laughed, I swooned, I celebrated, I fell in love and my heart broke and I cried multiple times. It’s real life, and there are hard moments, but Stella’s journey is truly beautiful and profound, and played out exactly the way it needed to.Along the way, we get to listen to Stella’s playlist from the past, and I strongly encourage you to pause your reading and listen to some of these songs, because it adds so much to the experience. I’ve been singing ‘Drive’ in my head non-stop since I finished this book, and I don’t think I’ll ever listen to it the same way again. So. Many. Feels now attached to it, and I love how certain songs take me right back to the feelings I had while reading particular scenes in this book.This is truly a wonderful reading experience. It’s one of those books you wish you could read for the first time all over again just to have that sense of wonder and anticipation again. I knew from the very beginning that it was going to be something special, and it absolutely was. This book is going down as an all-time favourite, I absolutely adored it.6 massive stars!Note – I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Ava Erickson, and she does an incredible job with it. She brings Stella to life and tells the story with so much emotion, I definitely recommend listening to this one.