Here’s the thing: when I write, I need complete silence. No music playing, no TV in the background, just me, the keyboard, and the sweet sound of nothing (which can be pretty hard in a household with two energetic kids, a husband who likes the volume on its loudest setting, and an (adorable!) poodle with an excessive barking issue). But that doesn’t mean I don’t imagine each scene I write cinematically, complete with the background music the characters would be listening to. So, I’ve put together my top five songs that sum up the plot of OMETHING LIKE DESIRE.
But first, here’s a little about my story: Meet Lexi Callen, a woman who craves a job more fulfilling than her current HR position fielding complaints about the theft of workplace mugs and loud typing caused by too-long acrylic nails. When her Mom asks to meet for coffee, Lexi knows something is up, but she never expects to learn that her mom is having an affair, just weeks before her sister’s wedding.
Lexi launches into full stop-the-affair mode, complete with stakeouts and a trip to a resort. There, she meets Zach, the grumpy, defensive son of her mom's new guy whom she grudgingly has to admit is kind of hot. The two team up to end the affair, but somewhere along the way Lexi starts questioning her job, her long-term relationship, and pretty much every life choice she's made. Chaos, obviously, ensues. Here are the songs in the background of that chaos:
Unfaithful - Rihanna
This song comes up in the novel in a scene I find a little funny. I’m not here to deliver any spoilers BUT I will say this book is all about questioning what one really wants. The emotional fallout of Lexi’s mother’s affair drives this whole story. Basically, this book examines the question of whether or not desire and love always align with what’s right. Rihanna belts out those lyrics about having some guilt and some of my characters share those feels, big time.
Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen
Okay, so firstly, this song is one of my ultimate favorites of all time. When I think “beautiful music”: I think of this song and its raw and tender lyrics. This song comes up in the book but again, being anti-spoiler I will only say this: this song comes at a moment that helps Lexi to see Zach in a different light.
You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift
Lexi’s got a thing for karaoke. Lexi’s coworker fondly remembers a night when a vodka cranberry-fueled Lexi virtually sang every song Swift ever recorded complete with the worm, the sprinkler, and a little air guitar. vodka cranberries. This would be Lexi’s go-to song for a rare wild night out: fun, classic, with lots of opportunities for drunken belting.
Risk It All - Bruno Mars
Lexi has to decide whether love is worth putting her pride on the line, facing the possibility of getting hurt, and the risk of trusting someone else. Lexi and Zach are thrown together by circumstances. There's unexpected chemistry and vulnerability suggested in the lyrics of this song and the book shares those elements.
Dancing Queen - Abba
I can visualize Lexi, her mom, her sister, and her best friend dancing to this song together with head-banging, hair flipping, and all the things people do when they’re grooving with reckless abandonment. This song is fun and carefree and represents the kind of freedom Lexi is searching for. This is the kind of song that’s all about empowerment.
So, there you have it. From the twenty-seven chapters and twenty-seven songs I pictured, these are the top five. And honestly? Now I’m having trouble getting the lyrics of Dancing Queen out of my head which might be a problem because I was hoping on working on my next book right now while my husband is out, my kids are unusually quiet, and my poodle’s taking a barking break. Wish me luck!
Something like Desire is a hilarious, romantic story of family, loyalty, and finding love in the most unlikely of places.
Lexi Callen's world is turned upside down when her mother announces she's leaving her father because she's having an affair. With her sister's wedding just weeks away, Lexi vows to put an end to the fling before it tears the family apart.
But her plan takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Zach, the son of her mother's lover, who seems equally determined to break up the relationship. What begins as a blame game and clashing opinions quickly shifts into something more complicated. The more time Lexi spends with Zach, the harder it is to deny the magnetism between them.
As the wedding date looms closer, Lexi is forced to confront more than just her mother's scandal. Questions about her own future, and her long-term boyfriend, Jayden, begin to surface. Caught between loyalty, desire, and the life she thought she wanted, Lexi must decide how much she's willing to risk in order to follow her heart.
Romance Contemporary [ Blackstone Publishing, On Sale: August 4, 2026, Hardcover / e-Book / audiobook, ISBN: 9798228497122 / eISBN: 9798228497214 ]
Marie Hoy-Kenny is a writer and theatre enthusiast from Ontario, Canada, where she lives with her guitar-playing husband, two creative and spirited young children, and mischievous bichon poodle.
Marie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master of Science in Education. She writes young adult and middle grade novels and has had several stories and poems published in literary magazines.
Her debut young adult thriller THE GIRLS FROM HUSH CABIN was published by Blackstone Publishing in August, 2023. Her first picture book, PLANTS ARE NOT BORING, was illustrated by Mike Deas and published in April, 2025.
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