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imstephtacular's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Transphobia, Cursing, Homophobia, Bullying, Sexual content, Sexism, and Racism
Minor: Mental illness, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Medical content, and Classism
brunonadamas's review against another edition
I felt really weird reading about teenage boys getting hard ons. Just to young for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
caseythereader's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Thanks to Wednesday Books for the free copy of this book.
- Jonny Garza Villa has another winner with CANTO CONTIGO. I adore their characters, these boys with soft hearts working through big events and bigger feelings.
- Rafie seems so prickly and hardheaded and first, but as we dig deeper into his experiences and feelings with him, we grow to love him just as much as Rey does.
- I loved the queering of mariachi in this book, too. I didn’t know much about the genre, but the book had me looking up songs and cheering for this super queer group of kids to live their dreams out loud.
- Jonny Garza Villa has another winner with CANTO CONTIGO. I adore their characters, these boys with soft hearts working through big events and bigger feelings.
- Rafie seems so prickly and hardheaded and first, but as we dig deeper into his experiences and feelings with him, we grow to love him just as much as Rey does.
- I loved the queering of mariachi in this book, too. I didn’t know much about the genre, but the book had me looking up songs and cheering for this super queer group of kids to live their dreams out loud.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Alcohol, Cursing, Homophobia, Sexual content, Transphobia, Vomit, and Grief
Moderate: Racism
justinekorson's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to Netgally for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
"You can have me if you want me."
WHAT A LINE UGH. THESE BOYS COMPLIMENTED EACH OTEHR SO WELL IT WAS UNFATHOMABLE. This is the first book I've read by Jonny Garza (though I think it's his 3rd book he's ever published) and what a great one to start with! I couldn't understand a lot of the Spanish being spoken in the book (for the very obvious reason that I don't speak the language) but I was still able to pick up the gist of what was said most of the time and there were occasional translations for particularly long sections of Spanish too which I appreciated. Raife and Rey were so much fun to read about. They were ACTUAL rivals to lovers (unlike some stories where they aren't really rivals at all they just have bad interactions). They were actively fighting for that spotlight before they decided to share it and that made the story so much sweeter when they finally came together!
My one gripe with the story is that I wish Rafie didn't actually agree to become lead vocalist (causing the catalyst of the third act breakup). Instead, I wish he'd ask to have some time to think it over. Rafie had changed so much (in my opinion) over the course of the school year and I knew he loved Rey so it hurt ME to see him pick himself over their partnership. I feel that if Rafie had asked for time instead of immediately agreeing it still could have worked. Someone could have overheard Rafie's conversation with his teacher and the principal (possibly that dick Arturo) and then Arturo could spread the rumor that Rafie was going to be lead vocalist. This could still lead to the third act breakup where Rey and Rafie have a fight and where they talk about trust and belief in one another. I think it would have been just as good but what do I know!
Regardless I love the representation that was in this book and although I know only Coco levels of things about mariachi, I really liked how this whole story centered around this really cool type of music/music competition. I'm looking forward to reading more from Jonny!
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
"You can have me if you want me."
WHAT A LINE UGH. THESE BOYS COMPLIMENTED EACH OTEHR SO WELL IT WAS UNFATHOMABLE. This is the first book I've read by Jonny Garza (though I think it's his 3rd book he's ever published) and what a great one to start with! I couldn't understand a lot of the Spanish being spoken in the book (for the very obvious reason that I don't speak the language) but I was still able to pick up the gist of what was said most of the time and there were occasional translations for particularly long sections of Spanish too which I appreciated. Raife and Rey were so much fun to read about. They were ACTUAL rivals to lovers (unlike some stories where they aren't really rivals at all they just have bad interactions). They were actively fighting for that spotlight before they decided to share it and that made the story so much sweeter when they finally came together!
My one gripe with the story is that I wish Rafie didn't actually agree to become lead vocalist (causing the catalyst of the third act breakup). Instead, I wish he'd ask to have some time to think it over. Rafie had changed so much (in my opinion) over the course of the school year and I knew he loved Rey so it hurt ME to see him pick himself over their partnership. I feel that if Rafie had asked for time instead of immediately agreeing it still could have worked. Someone could have overheard Rafie's conversation with his teacher and the principal (possibly that dick Arturo) and then Arturo could spread the rumor that Rafie was going to be lead vocalist. This could still lead to the third act breakup where Rey and Rafie have a fight and where they talk about trust and belief in one another. I think it would have been just as good but what do I know!
Regardless I love the representation that was in this book and although I know only Coco levels of things about mariachi, I really liked how this whole story centered around this really cool type of music/music competition. I'm looking forward to reading more from Jonny!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Chronic illness, Grief, and Mental illness
careinthelibrary's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I support the St. Martin's Press boycott. It is in response to a few major issues the publisher has yet to act on, like the ongoing apparent favoritism of white reviewers for ARCs over BIPOC reviewers and, more recently, their inaction towards a marketing employee's support of the escalation in violence against Palestine including posting Islamophobic comments online.
https://r4a.carrd.co/?fbclid=PAAabVQ1bAHLVenzYwgXY3m0hJ9UwJCCJqd0ZTfj3k1gKE9TPDYPR-UBzIpqM_aem_ASuQIh1_kP39TR3Xp6RHF58ZtO7CnBKjCiwC-n4NwX6mSK_YhKKmlzmb8zqBOBLkRfg#boycottoutline
https://r4a.carrd.co/?fbclid=PAAabVQ1bAHLVenzYwgXY3m0hJ9UwJCCJqd0ZTfj3k1gKE9TPDYPR-UBzIpqM_aem_ASuQIh1_kP39TR3Xp6RHF58ZtO7CnBKjCiwC-n4NwX6mSK_YhKKmlzmb8zqBOBLkRfg#boycottoutline
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Bullying, Medical content, Racism, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Death
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