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thepetitepunk's review
5.0
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a finished copy.
WHOA, I need a second. I had no idea what Muted was about—I just thought the cover looked cool. I was not at all expecting this to be about the music industry (okay, I probably could have expected that if I read the synopsis but whateverrr), and I DEFINITELY was not expecting this to be about all the other things added into it.
Muted is quite similar to Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson, one of my favorite books of 2020, with the exception that it is written in verse. When I started Muted, I honestly thought it was a mediocre contemporary. Even after reading Grown, I was not prepared for the wild ride ahead. Certainty wasn’t expecting to tear up either.
This is intense, heartbreaking, and has you crossing your fingers that it isn’t going in the direction it looks like it’s turning to. Highly recommend.
✧ ✧ ✧
≪reading 31 books for 31 days of january≫
╰┈➤ 1. all that's left in the world by erik j. brown
╰┈➤ 2. the female of the species by mindy mcginnis
╰┈➤ 3. the battle of the labyrinth by rick riordan
╰┈➤ 4. exit west by mohsin hamid
╰┈➤ 5. don't call us dead by danez smith
╰┈➤ 6. warm bodies by isaac marion
╰┈➤ 7. the other side of perfect by mariko turk
╰┈➤ 8. the last olympian by rick riordan
╰┈➤ 9. counting down with you by tashie bhuiyan
╰┈➤ 10. a matter of death and life by irvin d. yalom and marilyn yalom
╰┈➤ 11. the new hunger by isaac marion
╰┈➤ 12. dorothy must die by danielle paige
╰┈➤ 13. starfish by lisa fipps
╰┈➤ 14. one true loves by elise bryant
╰┈➤ 15. chlorine sky by mahogany l. browne
╰┈➤ 16. for every one by jason reynolds
╰┈➤ 17. fight night by miriam toews
╰┈➤ 18. shooter by walter dean myers
╰┈➤ 19. wade in the water by tracy k. smith
╰┈➤ 20. we the animals by justin torres
╰┈➤ 21. locomotion by jacqueline woodson
╰┈➤ 22. the strength in our scars by bianca sparacino
╰┈➤ 23. forbidden by tabitha suzuma
╰┈➤ 24. the song of achilles by madeline miller
╰┈➤ 25. burned by ellen hopkins
╰┈➤ 26. muted by tami charles
WHOA, I need a second. I had no idea what Muted was about—I just thought the cover looked cool. I was not at all expecting this to be about the music industry (okay, I probably could have expected that if I read the synopsis but whateverrr), and I DEFINITELY was not expecting this to be about all the other things added into it.
Muted is quite similar to Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson, one of my favorite books of 2020, with the exception that it is written in verse. When I started Muted, I honestly thought it was a mediocre contemporary. Even after reading Grown, I was not prepared for the wild ride ahead. Certainty wasn’t expecting to tear up either.
This is intense, heartbreaking, and has you crossing your fingers that it isn’t going in the direction it looks like it’s turning to. Highly recommend.
✧ ✧ ✧
≪reading 31 books for 31 days of january≫
╰┈➤ 1. all that's left in the world by erik j. brown
╰┈➤ 2. the female of the species by mindy mcginnis
╰┈➤ 3. the battle of the labyrinth by rick riordan
╰┈➤ 4. exit west by mohsin hamid
╰┈➤ 5. don't call us dead by danez smith
╰┈➤ 6. warm bodies by isaac marion
╰┈➤ 7. the other side of perfect by mariko turk
╰┈➤ 8. the last olympian by rick riordan
╰┈➤ 9. counting down with you by tashie bhuiyan
╰┈➤ 10. a matter of death and life by irvin d. yalom and marilyn yalom
╰┈➤ 11. the new hunger by isaac marion
╰┈➤ 12. dorothy must die by danielle paige
╰┈➤ 13. starfish by lisa fipps
╰┈➤ 14. one true loves by elise bryant
╰┈➤ 15. chlorine sky by mahogany l. browne
╰┈➤ 16. for every one by jason reynolds
╰┈➤ 17. fight night by miriam toews
╰┈➤ 18. shooter by walter dean myers
╰┈➤ 19. wade in the water by tracy k. smith
╰┈➤ 20. we the animals by justin torres
╰┈➤ 21. locomotion by jacqueline woodson
╰┈➤ 22. the strength in our scars by bianca sparacino
╰┈➤ 23. forbidden by tabitha suzuma
╰┈➤ 24. the song of achilles by madeline miller
╰┈➤ 25. burned by ellen hopkins
╰┈➤ 26. muted by tami charles
janagaton's review
3.0
This book was not intriguing until about 300 pages in. It was 1 star for me until then, especially because of the way the verses were written on the page, as if it were trying a little too hard to be creative when it was unnecessary and just making it harder to read line by line. However, I will say that the ending HIT. It was super well done and bumped my rating up to 3 stars. And since the book is in verse, it goes by super quickly, making it worth the read.
jarrettwdavis's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
1.0
1/5
The story was good but oh boy the anxiety it gave me did not put in in a fun ride. Forced myself to finish, that was a bad idea.
The story was good but oh boy the anxiety it gave me did not put in in a fun ride. Forced myself to finish, that was a bad idea.
robinsversion's review against another edition
It just felt like too many things i had already read before and the ending is already SO predictable
michellethebookcritic's review
4.0
TW; sexu@l @buse, sexu@l @ssault, and r@pe
(Please correct me if I got some of these warnings wrong and I will fix it)
Denver and her two besties, Dali and Shak, wanna make it big in the music industry. But not everything is always sunshine and rainbows.
So when the most popular R&B star in the world, Sean "Mercury" Ellis, assigns them to work with him, everything seems just fine.
But monsters can be anyone. Dreams can be turned against you.
And is Merc someone they can rely upon?
Before you know it, Denver is trapped. She's struggling to find a voice amidst all the sacrifices and lies.
Secrets get whispered, rumors settle in, and agreements turn into boundaries.
Will Denver and her friends make it out in the end? Check this book out on February 2nd and see for yourself!
Now, let's get into the review.
For someone who rarely reads stories in verse, I was surprised by how hooked I was in the beginning. The verse fits right into the atmosphere and I love it!
I also love how relatable Denver is and how she'll do anything for her friends. She's raw, she's vulnerable, and she gets emotional.
Now, Dali. Damn, I love her. Like that's it. No other fucking words.
I love how strong she is. How cautious she is as well. Dali's always looking out for other people, especially in times where she needs to focus on herself.
We didn't get much of Shak after the plot came in. It was a bit disappointing if you ask me. I can't say much about her, except she did try to save our girls multiple times and it didn't work, sadly.
Other than that, I don't know much about Shak.
I know I did love the smoothness of Charles' writing. I remember finishing the book in under 48 hours. I remember reading the last paragraph and then thinking, "wow". Like that shit just happened. And it did.
You know it amazes me how much time and effort was being put into this. It's a great book, shedding a light on the dark side of the music industry and the many other TW topics listed above. A big roller coaster ride that educated me, made me laugh a couple of times and overall smile.
The friendship portrayed is incredible and you can tell these girls will stick for each other no matter what.
All in all, if you're down for a heartwarming friendship, a fearless exploration, and a girl trying her best to make her voice heard, check this book out. It is an engaging and terrific read!
And while we're at it, lemme just thank my friend, Scholastic, for sending me an ARC of this book.
It truly means the world to me. I don't think I've ever had a big publishing company send me something.
And to all of you reading, whether here or on my blog, thank you too! The support is insane <33
(Please correct me if I got some of these warnings wrong and I will fix it)
Denver and her two besties, Dali and Shak, wanna make it big in the music industry. But not everything is always sunshine and rainbows.
So when the most popular R&B star in the world, Sean "Mercury" Ellis, assigns them to work with him, everything seems just fine.
But monsters can be anyone. Dreams can be turned against you.
And is Merc someone they can rely upon?
Before you know it, Denver is trapped. She's struggling to find a voice amidst all the sacrifices and lies.
Secrets get whispered, rumors settle in, and agreements turn into boundaries.
Will Denver and her friends make it out in the end? Check this book out on February 2nd and see for yourself!
Now, let's get into the review.
For someone who rarely reads stories in verse, I was surprised by how hooked I was in the beginning. The verse fits right into the atmosphere and I love it!
I also love how relatable Denver is and how she'll do anything for her friends. She's raw, she's vulnerable, and she gets emotional.
Now, Dali. Damn, I love her. Like that's it. No other fucking words.
I love how strong she is. How cautious she is as well. Dali's always looking out for other people, especially in times where she needs to focus on herself.
We didn't get much of Shak after the plot came in. It was a bit disappointing if you ask me. I can't say much about her, except she did try to save our girls multiple times and it didn't work, sadly.
Other than that, I don't know much about Shak.
I know I did love the smoothness of Charles' writing. I remember finishing the book in under 48 hours. I remember reading the last paragraph and then thinking, "wow". Like that shit just happened. And it did.
You know it amazes me how much time and effort was being put into this. It's a great book, shedding a light on the dark side of the music industry and the many other TW topics listed above. A big roller coaster ride that educated me, made me laugh a couple of times and overall smile.
The friendship portrayed is incredible and you can tell these girls will stick for each other no matter what.
All in all, if you're down for a heartwarming friendship, a fearless exploration, and a girl trying her best to make her voice heard, check this book out. It is an engaging and terrific read!
And while we're at it, lemme just thank my friend, Scholastic, for sending me an ARC of this book.
It truly means the world to me. I don't think I've ever had a big publishing company send me something.
And to all of you reading, whether here or on my blog, thank you too! The support is insane <33
majd_98's review
4.0
This was wild. I could not put this book down! First time I read a novel in verse and although I didn’t like this style at the beginning, it grew on me quickly!
Once I knew this book explores the dark side of the music industry, I was immediately pulled in. It gave me everything I wanted!
The ending was something I did NOT expect, but I wish it wasn’t as rushed... Everything happened too quickly and we didn’t get to see the impact of the truth on the main characters enough.
The fact that this book is based on real life events makes it even more disturbing! Makes me wonder about the horrors artists go through to reach their dreams, not knowing that the path there is heavily controlled by manipulators and exploiters who would do anything to satisfy their sick desires.
4/5 stars.
Once I knew this book explores the dark side of the music industry, I was immediately pulled in. It gave me everything I wanted!
The ending was something I did NOT expect, but I wish it wasn’t as rushed... Everything happened too quickly and we didn’t get to see the impact of the truth on the main characters enough.
The fact that this book is based on real life events makes it even more disturbing! Makes me wonder about the horrors artists go through to reach their dreams, not knowing that the path there is heavily controlled by manipulators and exploiters who would do anything to satisfy their sick desires.
4/5 stars.
rakoerose's review against another edition
4.0
The end of this left me reeling and I don’t know how I’m going to continue through my day after this.
”That little thing
you think you’re feeling?
It’s just a phase.”
This is definitely a dark tale about the underbellies of the music industry and the unfortunate system of taking advantage of those who don’t know any better. Denver and Dali both face intensities that seem impossible but are also absolutely rooted in reality. It’s not a fun read. It’s a heart-wrenching one. Content warnings for sexual assault, physical abuse, fatphobia, homophobia, drug use, and predatory behavior here. There’s probably more, so just be warned.
Having this story be told in verse absolutely elevates its effect since Denver is a singer and song-writer as a character. I wish I’d listened along with an audiobook, perhaps I’ll do that if I come back for a reread. But verse novels always make me just read and keep reading because the words pull me along. I liked Charles’s style and would definitely pick up something else by her!
I really do think this book is better experienced than read about, so I’ll just say if you can handle dark subjects and are interested in this book: give it a try! The way the title’s meaning warps over the course of the book is something I will say to look out for.
”That little thing
you think you’re feeling?
It’s just a phase.”
This is definitely a dark tale about the underbellies of the music industry and the unfortunate system of taking advantage of those who don’t know any better. Denver and Dali both face intensities that seem impossible but are also absolutely rooted in reality. It’s not a fun read. It’s a heart-wrenching one. Content warnings for sexual assault, physical abuse, fatphobia, homophobia, drug use, and predatory behavior here. There’s probably more, so just be warned.
Having this story be told in verse absolutely elevates its effect since Denver is a singer and song-writer as a character. I wish I’d listened along with an audiobook, perhaps I’ll do that if I come back for a reread. But verse novels always make me just read and keep reading because the words pull me along. I liked Charles’s style and would definitely pick up something else by her!
I really do think this book is better experienced than read about, so I’ll just say if you can handle dark subjects and are interested in this book: give it a try! The way the title’s meaning warps over the course of the book is something I will say to look out for.
wakkomomo's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Reminded me too much of the R. Kelly story. It did not feel original to me.