The Song That Unlocked Finn’s Heart

Okay one more confession. I just binged The Runarounds on Prime Video not once, but twice within a month. I am absolutely loving this series on so many levels. (Fair warning: you’re probably going to hear me rave about this series a LOT in the coming weeks. Consider this your official heads-up. 😂)

But there’s one thing that sent it to the top of my favorite series list… The music.

The Runarounds aren’t just some fictional band that pretends to play their instruments through fancy editing and voiceovers to move the plot along. They are a real, actual band. One that I will be listening to for years to come. They are catchy and fun and remind you of being a teenager with all the joy and angst that goes along with that time in life.

Halfway through my second binge, I started to wonder if maybe they released a song or two on Spotify. And wow! It turns out they released the whole album and have been touring for a while now. I immediately threw them on my writing playlist so as I sit to pen Harley and Duke’s story they are inspiring that same feeling in Coast of Carolina. Beachy, fun, and free. Fun to think that a TV show might be upping the joy in my next book.

Which got me thinking about the songs I had envisioned Finn writing and playing while I was writing Souvenirs, book 3 in the Warrior Women Series. When he and Em lost touch right after college, he isolated himself on the beaches of Mexico with his surfboard, guitar, and a street dog he adopted who he appropriately named Baja.

It was these songs that I had playing in the background that really inspired the soul-crushing what-ifs that invaded his life during this time. You know, where every every chord is filled with heartache and each song feels like a love letter that will never be sent.

So, in the spirit of sharing the behind-the-scenes magic (and because The Runarounds have me in such a music mood), here is the entire playlist, along with the song that unlocked all of who Finn was.

🌊 The Moment: Finn has always been protective of Em. He holds the false belief that he is not good enough to be anyone's husband and, although he is naturally driven to keep her close, he knows he can never be the man for her.

🌊 The Song: ”Hold On” by Luke Grimes. When I was writing Finn, I struggled to find out why he held so much back from Em, why he never took a chance in telling her how he felt. And then I came across this song and it all just clicked. This was all Finn.

Here’s the chorus.

Wish that I could not go crazy

Wish that I could make you hate me

Maybe I should change my name and run

So I don't have to hold on

And that was it. From the moment I heard it, I knew exactly who Finn was, what caused it, and what he would need to confront to move past it to find his Happily ever After with Em.

If you haven’t read Souvenirs yet (or if it’s time for a re-read with this new playlist playing in the background), now’s the perfect moment to dive in. Experience Finn’s journey, Em’s fierce heart, and all those beachy, swoony, laugh-out-loud moments for yourself.

Grab your copy (ebook, paperback, or KU!) right here: https://erinspineto.com/souvenirs

Or start the whole Warrior Women Sweet Surf RomCom series from the beginning: https://erinspineto.com/books

Until next time, keep riding those waves (and turning those pages),

Erin 🌊💕

P.S. If this peek behind the pages made you smile, just wait until you get the full salty-sweet scoop delivered straight to you—creative confessions, character playlists, beachy escapes, and all the heartfelt Warrior Women magic. 🏄‍♀️❤️

Join the Salties Scoop and let’s keep the good vibes rolling: 👉 Grab your spot:

Free, fun, and full of heart—hope to see you there soon! 🌺📖