Music unites everyone, no matter who you are and where you came from. Music is one of the foundations that we can all connect and expand our minds and hearts through. With each note and voice expressed in these five novels, get lost in the stories that discuss music, art, and how it brings people closer.
Sing by Vivi Greene
Pop icon Lily Ross has created three amazing hits that have to do with certain moments that were heartbreaking.
- AGONY, the feeling she got when her ex broke her heart and she never knew it would hurt this much.
- GHOSTS, the feeling of getting ghosted, I mean celebrities do get ghosted at times.
- ONCE BITTEN, meaning she’s shy and she won’t ever date an actor or musician ever again.
However, this summer is different, not what she expects. She takes a break and instead of being in the spotlight Lily decides to go to a small island in Maine which is in the middle of nowhere with her closest friends. She has three months for herself, her music, and her new album. Guys are not on her list of priorities.
Until Lily meets Noel Bradley, a down to earth sweetheart local who is different than anyone she has dated. Lily suddenly falls deeper for him than she thought possible. But Noel doesn’t like the limelight. Lily loves Noel but she also loves her fans, but when the three months are up, she might have to choose.
Leah on the Off Beat by Becky Albertalli
Leah Burke is Simom Spier’s best friend form the award-winning Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. She is a drummer and master of deadpan.
Leah is in tuned with the beat of her drum, but real life isn’t that easy to handle. She feels like the outsider of her group, she’s an only child of a single mom and she isn’t that privileged. She enjoys drawing but doesn’t share that with her friends, she hasn’t even told her friends she is bisexual, not even Simon her openly gay BFF.
Leah doesn’t know what to do, with her friends heading in different directions, with prom and college coming soon; the tensions are high. It’s hard for Leah to stay in tuned with people she loves fighting, especially when she realizes she might love one of them.
Road Tripped by Pete Hautman
Steven Gerald Gabel, a.k.a. Stiggy needs to leave Minnesota. His mother isn’t even herself anymore after the recent suicide of his dad, and his girlfriend, or at least they kind of where, ghosted him and left. He doesn’t need to stick around and so with his mom’s credit card and tourist map of Great River Road, Stiggy leaves.
However, this newfound of independence isn’t what it’s cracked up to be and he needs to decide if he will keep running or let them hitch a ride back home with him.
Kaleidoscope Song by Fox Benwell
Fifteen-year-old Neo loves music, it gives her life meaning and changes the world before her eyes. Her desire is to have a career in radio. When Umzi Radio broadcasts live in a nearby bar, Neo is ecstatic. She sneaks out to go see them and she falls in love with the music, and the experience, but also a girl. Tale has a voice that commands the stage and has Neo’s attention. She knows that it wasn’t normal or even right. She knows that she has to go to school, get a job, meet a boy and have a family. It’s been made clear to her in childhood, her society, in books, and her parents. But Tale and music are what stays inside her mind and she can’t stop thinking about them.
The Beauty that Remains by Ashley Woodfolk
Music brought Autumn, Shay, and Logan together.
Autumn always knew she was a talented artist and a loyal friend. Shay had a bond with her sister Sasha and music. Logan wrote love songs meanwhile his love life was not perfect.
But when tragedy hits each of them, music isn’t enough. Logan can’t stop watching vlogs of his dead ex-boyfriend. Shay’s music blog is struggling. And Autumn sends messages that can’t be answered.
No matter how small hope may be, one band’s music will reunite them and prove that despite the grief, beauty still exists in those who have left.
