Darkhearts by James L Sutter (Paperback)

An enemies-to-lovers gay rockstar romance perfect for readers who enjoy emotional coming-of-age stories and complicated relationships.

David once believed music would shape his future. But after leaving his band behind, he missed his opportunity at fame and found himself settling back into ordinary high school life in Seattle. While he spends his summers working construction with his father, his former bandmates Chance and Eli rise to become one of America’s biggest teen pop acts.

Everything changes after Eli’s death.

Forced back into each other’s lives, David and Chance are left dealing with years of unresolved tension, resentment, and memories from the friendship they once shared. David still struggles with Chance’s public image and constant need for attention, but reconnecting begins to remind him why they were once so close.

As emotions grow more complicated, their relationship shifts in unexpected ways. What starts as friction develops into a tentative romance, though Chance remains determined to keep it hidden from the public eye. For David, the relationship also represents another possibility: a chance to return to the music career he left behind.

But mixing ambition with emotion creates new problems neither of them can easily avoid.

Set against the pressures of fame, identity, and growing up, this story explores friendship, grief, second chances, and the difficult balance between personal dreams and genuine connection.