Danica Nava returns with her sophomore romance novel, Love Is a War Song, delivering a story that’s part fish-out-of-water comedy, part grumpy-sunshine romance, and wholly engaging exploration of identity, belonging, and what it truly means to be home. Following her acclaimed debut The Truth According to Ember, Nava once again proves her mastery at weaving contemporary issues into irresistibly romantic narratives, though this time she ventures into more turbulent waters with mixed results.
A Star Falls to Earth
The premise is as compelling as it is timely. Avery Fox, a Muscogee pop sensation, finds herself at the center of a cultural appropriation scandal after posing in a feathered warbonnet for Rolling Stone magazine. What was intended as a celebration of her Native American heritage becomes a career-threatening controversy, forcing her to flee to her estranged grandmother Lottie’s horse ranch in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. There, she encounters Lucas Iron Eyes, a brooding ranch manager who despises everything she represents and wants nothing more than to see her gone.
Nava constructs this setup with precision, immediately establishing the stakes and the inevitable collision course between two vastly different worlds. Avery’s fall from grace feels authentic in our social media-saturated culture, where public opinion can shift from adoration to condemnation overnight. The author’s decision to open with Avery’s music video shoot—surrounded by oiled dancers in loincloths while lip-syncing to a song she didn’t even write—establishes both the absurdity of her situation and the disconnect between her authentic self and manufactured persona.
Where Authenticity Meets Performance
The central tension between perceived authenticity and lived experience drives the narrative’s strongest moments. Avery’s journey from manufactured pop star to someone discovering her roots unfolds with genuine emotional weight. Nava skillfully portrays the complexity of Native identity, particularly for someone raised outside tribal communities. Avery’s ignorance about basic cultural concepts—not knowing what blood quantum means or understanding enrollment processes—feels realistic rather than contrived.
Lucas Iron Eyes emerges as more than just the requisite grumpy love interest. His three rules for staying out of trouble—preserve the culture, respect the horses, and stick to himself—establish him as someone deeply rooted in tradition and community responsibility. When forced to work alongside Avery to save the ranch from closure, their initial antagonism transforms into something deeper through shared purpose.
Romance in the Rough
The romantic development between Avery and Lucas follows familiar territory but with enough fresh elements to maintain interest. Their banter crackles with genuine chemistry, particularly as Lucas’s disdain for Avery’s public persona gradually gives way to appreciation for her authentic self. Nava excels at writing dialogue that feels natural and unforced, allowing their relationship to develop through meaningful conversations rather than forced proximity alone.
However, the romance occasionally falls into predictable patterns. The “I hate your music but love you” dynamic, while charming, doesn’t venture far beyond established tropes. Some readers may find Lucas’s initial hostility toward Avery overly harsh, particularly given her genuine efforts to learn and contribute to ranch life. The sexual tension builds effectively, though the intimate scenes, while well-written, don’t quite reach the emotional heights of the quieter character moments.
Community as Character
Perhaps the novel’s greatest strength lies in its portrayal of community and belonging. The residents of Broken Arrow, from grandmother Lottie to the local stickball team, feel like real people rather than convenient plot devices. Nava’s research into Muscogee culture and Oklahoma ranch life shows in the authentic details—from traditional stickball games to the practical realities of horse care and ranch management.
The supporting characters, particularly Lottie, could have used more development. While her initial coldness toward Avery makes sense given their estranged relationship, her gradual warming feels somewhat rushed. More exploration of the family history that drove Avery’s mother away would have strengthened this emotional arc.
Social Commentary with a Light Touch
Nava tackles the contentious issue of cultural authenticity with nuance and humor. The novel addresses real concerns about representation and appropriation without becoming preachy or losing its romantic comedy tone. Avery’s journey from someone who “didn’t need a laminated card to belong” to actively pursuing tribal enrollment reflects many real experiences of Native Americans reconnecting with their heritage.
The author’s decision to include actual social media responses and cancel culture dynamics grounds the story in contemporary reality. The #averyfoxisfake hashtag and viral TikTok videos feel authentic to anyone familiar with online discourse, though some readers may find these elements date the story.
Technical Craft and Pacing
Nava’s prose style has evolved since her debut, showing increased confidence and polish. The narrative voice captures Avery’s pop star persona while revealing her underlying vulnerability. The pacing moves briskly through the first half, though it occasionally rushes through emotional beats that could benefit from more development.
The dual timeline structure—jumping between Avery’s current crisis and her developing relationship with Lucas—works effectively to maintain tension. However, some transitions feel abrupt, and the resolution comes together perhaps too neatly for a story dealing with such complex cultural and personal issues.
Minor Discord in the Harmony
Where the novel stumbles is in its occasional reluctance to fully explore its weightier themes. While Nava handles cultural appropriation thoughtfully, the resolution sometimes feels overly optimistic. Real healing from cultural trauma and family estrangement typically requires more time and work than the novel’s timeline allows.
The ranch’s financial crisis, while serving as an effective plot device to bring the characters together, resolves almost too easily through Avery’s celebrity connections. A more complicated path to saving the ranch might have provided additional character development opportunities.
The Verdict: A Worthy Encore
Despite minor shortcomings, Love Is a War Song succeeds as both escapist romance and meaningful cultural commentary. Nava demonstrates growth as a storyteller, crafting characters who feel authentic and relatable while addressing important contemporary issues. The novel works best when focusing on quiet moments of connection—Avery learning to care for horses, Lucas sharing family stories, or the grandmother-granddaughter relationship slowly mending.
Romance readers seeking diverse voices and authentic cultural representation will find much to appreciate here. While the novel doesn’t quite reach the emotional heights of genre standouts, it offers a satisfying reading experience with genuine heart and purpose.
For fans of: Emily Henry’s Beach Read, Christina Lauren’s contemporary romances, or anyone who enjoyed Nava’s previous work.
Similar Reads You’ll Love
If Love Is a War Song resonated with you, consider these complementary reads:
The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava – The author’s debut featuring workplace romance with similar themes of identity and authenticity
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Another story about celebrity, authenticity, and the price of fame
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle – Enemies-to-lovers romance with excellent character development
Beach Read by Emily Henry – Contemporary romance addressing writer’s block and personal growth
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren – Opposites-attract romance with cultural themes and family dynamics
Love Is a War Song establishes Danica Nava as a distinctive voice in contemporary romance, one willing to tackle complex cultural issues while delivering the emotional satisfaction readers crave. While not without its flaws, this novel offers enough heart, humor, and authentic emotion to keep readers invested from first page to satisfying conclusion.