The New York Times Book Review recently shared its 100 Notable Books of 2025 list, and we were pleased to find Little Rock writer Regina Black’s romance novel “August Lane” among the ranks. Anchored in the fictional town of Arcadia, Arkansas, “August Lane” mines the lives of Luke Randall, a one-hit-wonder country artist whose relevance is fading; August Lane, Luke’s former lover and the uncredited lyricist behind his biggest song; and JoJo Lane, August’s accomplished mother, who’s soon to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Here’s what NYT had to say about the book: The story of August and Luke, high school sweethearts and country music collaborators picking up the pieces after a decade of heartbreak, is unapologetically dark yet passionate. “It’s the murder ballads, the rolling thunder, the long black road.” Earlier this year, Black spoke with the Arkansas Times about why “August Lane” and “The Art of Scandal” her first novel revolve around the lives of creative people. “I’m drawn to creative people because they live in this constant tension between vulnerability and courage,” she said. “There’s something deeply romantic about someone who creates not because they have to, but because they can’t not create.”.
https://arktimes.com/rock-candy/2025/11/25/little-rock-writer-regina-black-makes-an-appearance-on-nyts-100-notable-books-of-2025
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