I adored Love is a War Song. It’s one of those books I was looking forward to read every day. Talk about a catchy hook – pop star running from a social media cancellation to find out more about her estranged family. This is my favorite release from Nava! Keep reading this book review of Love is a War Song for my full thoughts.
Summary
Pop singer Avery Fox has become a national joke after posing scantily clad on the cover of Rolling Stone in a feather warbonnet. What was meant to be a statement of her success as a Native American singer has turned her into a social pariah and dubbed her a fake. With threats coming from every direction and her career at a standstill, she escapes to her estranged grandmother Lottie’s ranch in Oklahoma. Living on the rez is new to Avery—not only does she have to work in the blazing summer heat to earn her keep, but the man who runs Lottie’s horse ranch despises her and wants her gone.
Red Fox Ranch has been home to Lucas Iron Eyes since he was sixteen years old. He has lived by three rules to keep himself out of trouble: 1) preserve the culture, 2) respect the horses, and 3) stick to himself. When he is tasked with picking up Lottie’s granddaughter at the bus station, the last person he expected to see is the Avery Fox. Lucas can’t stand what she represents, but when he’s forced to work with her on the ranch, he can’t get her out of his sight—or his head. He reminds himself to keep to his rules, especially after he finds out the ranch is under threat of being shut down.
It’s clear Avery doesn’t belong here, but they form a tentative truce and make a Avery will help raise funds to save the ranch, and in exchange, Lucas will show her what it really means to be an Indian. It’s purely transactional, absolutely no horsing around…but where’s the fun in that?
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Love is a War Song is heartfelt and heart warming at the same time. I loved Avery from the beginning. Not only does she want to find out more about her Native American heritage, but also her estranged family. Just like in The Truth According to Ember, Nava presents a book that is swoony, but also multi-layered. Avery has to explore the family secrets she she has discovered. We’re always worried about our children repeating our mistakes, but how do we break a cycle? I loved the family element of Love is a War Song and how Avery has to figure out her own family to figure out how to speak up with her own voice.
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Family is supposed to love you, but they also have this uncanny ability to also hurt us. And sometimes even deeper than we thought. We can stumble under the weight of parental expectations. Anytime there’s a parent who feels they have ‘sacrificed it all’ for their child, there introduces tension and resentment which can drown a relationship. There’s this almost romantic idea about if being ‘just us against the world’, but it doesn’t have to stay this isolated island weathering the storm. We can allow people in and know that a community is stronger together.
Overall,
And the romance? That was chef’s kiss. I loved the way Avery is a fish out of water. Avery and Lucas have instant sparks, but maybe not the best kind? They very much have opinions about each other and what they are capable of. But Love is a War Song is a testament to how we can change our mind and realize we misjudged someone. How we need someone to challenge us, to be there and support us. Ultimately Love is a War Song was a balm to a challenging month for me. And I would 100% recommend! Find Love is a War Song on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.