Author: L.A. Cannon

Series: Artificial Suicide

First Published: 25 April 2025

“This man wasn’t a part of the journey. He was, and always has been, his beginning and all his ends.”   

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own. Thank you so much to L.A. Cannon for sending a copy my way!

I will try and keep my review as spoiler free as possible but just be wary if you haven’t read the first book, If I Were to Die.

After eight years, Kaj Larsen did not expect to be here staring his past in the eye, much less having to work with him.

Noah Sørensen, Artificial Suicide’s new vocalist, had once been everything for Kaj, but they fell apart in the most catastrophic way. Now they’re two scarred souls finding each other in the crux of all the secrets and resentment floating between them.

He doesn’t need this. Not while he’s trying for the fourth time to stay away from all addictive substances. Yet, Noah doesn’t seem to know fear as he trudges closer, encouraging the darkest part of him to unleash.

Succumbing to temptation is the equivalent to worlds colliding, but Kaj has never been one to steer clear from what he craves. They will either save each other or get buried together.

Oh, my poor, beautiful boys! I am so happy they finally got their HEA! Especially after the first book ripped my heart out. The road to get there was messy, slightly toxic, and hurt so good. I am obsessed with them. I have read everything L.A. Cannon has written, and Kaj and Noah are my favourite couple.

Would You Die With Me? takes place eight years after the event of the first book. Kaj is a much healthier place. He is still processing his trauma but has healthy coping mechanisms to deal with it. Kaj is the drummer for the metal band Artificial Suicide. The band is dealing with the media fallout as their ex-frontman was charged with multiple counts of sexual assault. Their label is working overtime to separate the band from the public outrage. Step one: the band needs a new frontman, especially with a tour coming up. Kaj and the rest of the band are put through a series of auditions. Who applies but his childhood sweetheart and ex-boyfriend, Noah Sorensen? The audition is the pair’s first encounter since their last painful meeting. Noah and Kaj must work together while managing their attraction and their ebbing resentment. The weight of unspoken words and buried secrets creates a palpable tension between them; it’s a howling ache. As the tour continues and they live in close quarters, will they give in to this attraction? Can they save or destroy each other?

This is predominately told from Kaj’s point of view, which I adore. We get a handful of chapters from Noah’s perspective sprinkled in. This provides a beautiful counterbalance to the storytelling in the first book. This seemingly small detail has a significant impact.

Kaj has experienced profound trauma, which we are starting to understand the full extent of. His prior coping mechanisms, including drugs and alcohol, proved ineffective, even if it seemed to help for a while. I enjoyed seeing him in a better place. He’s still learning to process and cope with everything now that he’s sober. He struggles with his past as it’s now no longer muted by intoxication. Kaj is working to avoid falling into old habits. I loved seeing his therapy sessions and all the raw, messy factors of having a mental illness. I adored this representation. I also adored watching Kaj slowly open up to those around him. He grapples with self-stigma and fears being judged for what happened to him. It was beautiful to see how the rest of the band and crew showered him with love and support when he finally revealed what had happened. It brought me immense joy to witness Kaj finally receives unconditional love and support again, something he hasn’t experienced since his father’s passing.

It is interesting not being in Noah’s point of view and trying to uncover his motives through Kaj’s eyes. Noah is an absolute sweetheart, but we can see he’s grown up since we last saw him. He’s more confident and doesn’t shy away from taking up space in the world. I adore how stubborn he is. He is determined to pursue his dream of being a musician and refuses to ignore his feelings for Kaj. Since Noah is such a cinnamon roll. I was not expecting his actions at the end of the book. It was explosive, to put it mildly. We see that, due to the stress of touring, his mother’s illness, and the increasingly hateful and threatening comments on social media, he is reaching his limit. Noah, while our quiet, soft boy, will risk it all for his loved ones.

I adored how their relationship unfolded. Kaj is resistant to Noah being in the band, let alone rekindling their old relationship. Kaj is grumpy and keeps everyone at a distance, terrified to let anyone get close enough to hurt him, even if he denies that this is the reason. Underneath his prickly exterior, he is a marshmallow. The chemistry between Kaj and Noah is electric. The fine line between love and hate is beautifully illustrated here. I adored watching Noah slowly, slowly get close to Kaj and weave his way past Kaj’s defences until they were practically dating, even if Kaj refused to acknowledge it. The steamy scenes here are explosive as the boys work their frustrations out on each other.

If you know me, you know that I adore my rockstar romances filled with music and L.A. Cannon never disappoints. This book provides a deep insight into the life of a touring musician, from rehearsals and touring to handling press and invasive comments on social media. I loved every aspect of it! This story illustrates exactly why L.A. Cannon is my go-to author for rockstar romances.

I was squealing at the cameo we get of Dark Omens and Buried Alive during one of their festival shows. It was a joy to see how this series fits in L.A. Cannon’s rockstar romance universe. Honestly, it makes me want to reread her Burn to Rise series.

To no one’s surprise, I adored every little moment of Would You Die With Me? I could happily gush about it all day. If you love a dark, angsty MM romance which will cause you all the emotional damage before piecing you back together, you need to read this duet. Trust me, you will fall head over heels for these boys!