Author Bal Khabra has decided to share a list of some songs that go with her new book SPIRAL.
Fallen Star by The Neighborhood
If this book were a TV show, this would be the title song. It perfectly captures the yearning, the push and pull, and everything tied to the fake-dating dynamic. Elias, the main character, often describes Sage, the female lead, as a star. She’s a ballerina striving to reach the spotlight, but in many ways, she’s a fallen star. Elias wants to help her, yet he’s also trying to keep her at arm’s length.
My favorite lyrics:
Further apart, the closer that we are
I’ll keep you far away, from me like a star
Hard not to fall for you, I gave you all my heart
Further apart, the closer, the closer, the closer that we are
Willow by Taylor Swift
This captures Sage Beaumont perfectly. She’s fake-dating Elias, but deep down, she wants to follow him wherever he goes and have him take her hand. She falls for him first, always striving to get him to open up and let her in.
My favorite lyrics:
Wherever you stray
I follow
I’m begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
You know that my train could take you home
Anywhere else is hollow
I’m begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans
That’s my man
Ryder by Madison Beer
Sage is the quintessential eldest daughter, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Despite life’s attempts to knock her down, she remains this sunshine girl who always manages to stay afloat. Sage represents all the eldest daughters who bear the burden of dysfunction in a household full of strong personalities. She was forced to grow up before she ever had the chance to be a kid. She was the one who always stepped in to shield her younger brother, Sean, from the chaos of their childhood home.
My favorite lyrics:
Just two kids caught in the crossfire
Close your eyes, I know you’re so tired
Just kids, you and I
I know it’s hard sometimes
But you’ll be alright
Oh, we’ll be alright
Everywhere, Everything by Noah Kahan
This song perfectly captures the essence of Sage and Elias. Their connection grows deeper as they intertwine with each other, and there’s even a drive-in scene in Spiral that echoes this. The song feels like something they’d sing to one another.
My favorite lyrics:
Two bodies riddled with scars from our preteens
Intertwine in a car’s dirty backseat
Stare at a drive-in screen
Let the Light in by Lana Del Rey ft. Father John Misty.
This song fits perfectly with the climax of the book. I think both these characters are yearning for one another and asking each other to “let the light in” despite being out in the open with their fake-relationship.
My favorite lyrics:
Ooh, let the light in
At your back door yelling ’cause I wanna come in
Ooh, turn your light on
Look at us, you and I, back at it again
SPIRAL by Bal Khabra

He’s on edge while she’s en pointe in this fake-dating sports romance from the author of the smash hit Collide.
Elias Westbrook, a newly drafted hockey player for the Toronto Thunder, is facing the challenges of fame and media scrutiny. With a growing fan base and too many expectations on his shoulders, he’s struggling to make his first career goal. The tabloids are reporting on his every move, including which woman he was last seen with, but all he wants to do is escape the spotlight.
Enter from stage left Sage Beaumont, an aspiring ballerina with dreams of joining the Aurora Ballet Theatre, but her lack of popularity online leaves her at a major disadvantage for securing the lead role. When Sage finds herself with the perfect opportunity to make her dreams come true by fake dating Elias, she takes her shot.
Soon enough, the flimsy fake-dating rules they set in place fall away in the face of their sizzling connection. But before things spiral out of control, Sage and Elias will have to decide if they’re willing to take the leap together or if they’ll call it quits.
Romance Sports | Multicultural [Berkley, On Sale: January 28, 2025, Trade Paperback / e-Book , ISBN: 9780593818282 / eISBN: 9780593818299]
Buy SPIRAL: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Powell’s Books | Books-A-Million | Indie BookShops | Ripped Bodice | Walmart.com | Target.com | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Bal Khabra
Bal is a Canadian writer, romance enthusiast, and book lover. Before she decided to jump into the romance pool, she spent her time gushing about books on social media. When inspiration strikes, she is found filling her notes app with ideas for romance novels. Like her heroine Summer, Bal has been woven into the fabric of two cultures and finds herself creating characters that represent the beauty of both. Whether it’s through language, a box of her favorite sweets, or a cup of chai, we can find hints of her South Asian roots throughout her writing. She loves reading about love, watching movies about love, and now, writing about it herself. There really isn’t much else that gets her heart fluttering the way HEAs do. She fell in love with writing and hopes to continue living out her romance author dreams.


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