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dogoodwithbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I would like to thank NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Dominic Lim’s debut novel, All the Right Notes, heart-warming novel featuring a romance decades in the making and a powerful relationship between father and son.
When Quito Cruz gets an unexpected request from his dad to help in leading his retirement concert but also get Hollywood superstar Emmett Aoki to perform in the concert, he doesn’t know what to think. After not speaking in over two decades, Quito is surprised that Emmett happily agrees and later comes to find that their connection becomes more intense than it ever has before.
Adopting a then/now alternate POV, Lim really gets at the heart of telling the timeline between Quito’s and Emmett’s relationship from their first choir rehearsal together during high school to college to finally the present day with organizing the concert. I think this adds a really interesting dynamic to the plot and it helps with understanding the nature of their relationship between the present-day narrative. Though, near the end of the “then” chapters, I don't really know what to feel about that plot twist.
Likewise, there’s some solid character development in All the Right Notes. Alongside Quito and Emmett defining their relationship as well as growing within their perspective fields, you also get some insight on how some of the side characters develop in the book. From Ujima’s positive portrayal of discovering the right gender expression to Mr. Cruz’s dedication for wanting the best for Quito, you really get some well-thought out characters that you’ll enjoy reading about.
Overall, All the Right Notes is definitely a novel to check out this summer for a heart-warming read of music, family, and finding love.
Dominic Lim’s debut novel, All the Right Notes, heart-warming novel featuring a romance decades in the making and a powerful relationship between father and son.
When Quito Cruz gets an unexpected request from his dad to help in leading his retirement concert but also get Hollywood superstar Emmett Aoki to perform in the concert, he doesn’t know what to think. After not speaking in over two decades, Quito is surprised that Emmett happily agrees and later comes to find that their connection becomes more intense than it ever has before.
Adopting a then/now alternate POV, Lim really gets at the heart of telling the timeline between Quito’s and Emmett’s relationship from their first choir rehearsal together during high school to college to finally the present day with organizing the concert. I think this adds a really interesting dynamic to the plot and it helps with understanding the nature of their relationship between the present-day narrative. Though, near the end of the “then” chapters, I don't really know what to feel about that plot twist.
Likewise, there’s some solid character development in All the Right Notes. Alongside Quito and Emmett defining their relationship as well as growing within their perspective fields, you also get some insight on how some of the side characters develop in the book. From Ujima’s positive portrayal of discovering the right gender expression to Mr. Cruz’s dedication for wanting the best for Quito, you really get some well-thought out characters that you’ll enjoy reading about.
Overall, All the Right Notes is definitely a novel to check out this summer for a heart-warming read of music, family, and finding love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Outing, and Homophobia
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, Blood, and Car accident
imstephtacular's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Rape, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Drug use, Blood, Medical content, Body shaming, Racism, Outing, Car accident, Vomit, Sexual content, Infidelity, and Death
womanwill's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed this queer second chance romance by Dominic Lim. The rich language and Filipino food descriptions had me drooling at parts. I absolutely loved Mr. Cruz as a meddling father, and it read as a love note to immigrant parents.
The story follows Quito, a Filipino pianist, and Emmett, a Japanese and white movie star, as they reconnect after a college fallout 20 years later. Told in alternating chapters from their meeting in high school and reconnect in modern day, I was particularly impressed with how Lim pulled off alternating flashback chapters that actually worked.
However, I do wish that what drove Quito and Emmett apart was revealed earlier and that they had discussed and processed it more together. It didn't really make sense to me that they didn't talk for 20 years. The miscommunication trope was heavy in this book, which isn't my favorite, but I think the shame and self-doubt driving the lack of communication made it more believable.
Thanks to Forever Pub and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
The story follows Quito, a Filipino pianist, and Emmett, a Japanese and white movie star, as they reconnect after a college fallout 20 years later. Told in alternating chapters from their meeting in high school and reconnect in modern day, I was particularly impressed with how Lim pulled off alternating flashback chapters that actually worked.
However, I do wish that what drove Quito and Emmett apart was revealed earlier and that they had discussed and processed it more together. It didn't really make sense to me that they didn't talk for 20 years. The miscommunication trope was heavy in this book, which isn't my favorite, but I think the shame and self-doubt driving the lack of communication made it more believable.
Thanks to Forever Pub and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual assault, Outing, and Blood
Minor: Car accident and Transphobia
moonjelifish's review
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Outing, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, and Emotional abuse
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