Page Count: 280
Published on: April 3, 2018
Published by: KCP Loft
Genre(s): Contemporary, Young Adult, Mental Health, Romance
Source: Paperback - provided by publisher
Source: Paperback - provided by publisher
Age Rating: Young Adult
My Rating: 3 stars
Goodreads synopsis:
Dominique is a high school junior from a gritty neighborhood in Trenton, where she and her mom are barely getting by.
Ben is a musical prodigy from the Upper East Side, a violinist at a top conservatory with obsessive talent and a brilliant future.
When Dom's class is taken to hear a concert at Carnegie Hall, she expects to be bored out of her mind. But then she sees the boy in the front row playing violin like his life depends on it --- and she is transfixed.
Posing as an NYU student, Dom sneaks back to New York City to track down Ben Tristan, a magnetic genius who whisks her into a fantasy world of jazz clubs and opera, infatuation, and possibility. Each sees something in the other that promises to complete them.
As Dom's web of lies grows, though, so does Ben's obsessive need to conquer Beethoven's famous Kreutzer Sonata. But Ben's genius, which captivates Dominique, conceals a secret, and the challenges of her life may make it difficult to help him.
Alternating perspectives and an unreliable narrator create suspense and momentum, romance and heartbreak. Author Lindsay Champion's deep roots in theater and music are evident on every page --- structured like a sonata with hints of West Side Story, her debut novel hits all the right notes.
Ben is a musical prodigy from the Upper East Side, a violinist at a top conservatory with obsessive talent and a brilliant future.
When Dom's class is taken to hear a concert at Carnegie Hall, she expects to be bored out of her mind. But then she sees the boy in the front row playing violin like his life depends on it --- and she is transfixed.
Posing as an NYU student, Dom sneaks back to New York City to track down Ben Tristan, a magnetic genius who whisks her into a fantasy world of jazz clubs and opera, infatuation, and possibility. Each sees something in the other that promises to complete them.
As Dom's web of lies grows, though, so does Ben's obsessive need to conquer Beethoven's famous Kreutzer Sonata. But Ben's genius, which captivates Dominique, conceals a secret, and the challenges of her life may make it difficult to help him.
Alternating perspectives and an unreliable narrator create suspense and momentum, romance and heartbreak. Author Lindsay Champion's deep roots in theater and music are evident on every page --- structured like a sonata with hints of West Side Story, her debut novel hits all the right notes.
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Hey, guys!
This book was sent to me by KCP Loft for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you, KCP Loft, for sending me this book.
When first starting this book, I had no idea how much mental health would play into this story. I thought this would be a cutesy and artsy little contemporary that follows fun musicians as they fall in love in New York. This was not the fluffy romance that I anticipated. I was actually hoping to get some Your Lie in April vibes, but oh my gosh I got the heavier end of that stick. This book was much heavier and I really did not know what I was going into when I started this book. After reading this, I had one of my friends read this book to see if my opinions were just insensitive or something, but she thinks that my feelings are valid and her thoughts on this book really helped me put the events of the book into perspective.
Initially, I really did not like this book all that much. I thought the characters were obnoxious and annoying. I thought that Dom was kind of fake and manipulative and I thought that Ben was pretentious and crazy. After reading the book, I realize that those generalizations were flawed and close-minded. I was being bitter and mean towards a situation that I didn't know much about. Above in the synopsis, it says that the narrators are purposefully unreliable, but I really did not know that, to begin with. I feel like there should have been a way for me to know that they were kind of unreliable going in? Maybe? Then again, not knowing much added to the confusing aspect of the book. Maybe I'm wrong.
Let's just get into my thoughts.
Let's talk about the characters. At first, I really liked Dom. I thought she had an interesting perspective and I liked that she was a kind of underdog that could represent those who have to work really hard to move up in life. I thought that would be a great message to incorporate into YA. She and her mom's situation was so raw and real. I really loved their initial dynamic. Not to mention, Dom and her friend Cass' friendship. I loved Cass. He was probably the best character in the book. I adored him. I'd read a book all about Cass if I could. Overall, Dom had the potential to be a fantastic character. She's smart, she's beautiful, and she has the capability to be so much more than she is....but then she started lying...about everything. I just could not get behind it.
Ben was an even bigger piece of work. He could have been so sweet and romantic, but he became obsessive and strange and intense. Dom didn't see it. She was so caught up in the romanticism of it instead of following her instincts. He started to get scary and his behavior literally made me sit at the edge of my seat and actively worry about his and Dom's well being. After reading the last few chapters of the book, we find out why he's acting the way he is, but while reading the events as they were happening I was getting so mad at him for what he was doing. He wasn't taking care of himself, he was constantly lying and being mean to his family and friends and classmates. He was being super sketchy and weird. I just didn't like him. After reading the last bits of the book, I just worried about him. I wouldn't wish that kind of mania on anyone. It's not that I pity him, it's that I can empathize with him. I feel like he and Dom are actual people.
These characters have left a mark on me. I didn't like the book very much, but boy do I appreciate the message and representation. This was a beautifully written debut. Champion did a great job at representing these teens. They were so real and...annoying. I think in the best way. I'm still salty about their recklessness and I don't condone their behavior at all, but wow... it was a ride.
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