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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
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
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
As Tashie Bhuiyan is an auto-buy author, I've been excited for Stay with My Heart ever since I heard about it. Part of what I love is the way music is at its core. How it connects people and feelings together. Not only that, but also the ways in which music can transport us to a place, a moment, a person. Firstly, I loved the friendship Liana and Evie have. Secondly, I love a good band dynamic and Stay with My Heart delivers.
As Tashie Bhuiyan is an auto-buy author, I've been excited for Stay with My Heart ever since I heard about it. Part of what I love is the way music is at its core. How it connects people and feelings together. Not only that, but also the ways in which music can transport us to a place, a moment, a person. Firstly, I loved the friendship Liana and Evie have. Secondly, I love a good band dynamic and Stay with My Heart delivers.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
this book was amazing!!! I loved the songs at the beginning of each chapter, I didn't know most of them, but when I did, it was super helpful to set the tone of the chapters. This wasn't just a romance novel, it was also about Liana's journey of self discovery and I loved that.
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
This book absolutely has my heart and I would read a thousand more pages about these characters. Liana and Evie's long distance friendship reminds me of my own best friend, and seeing the boys of Third Eye alternate between joking around and uplifting each other was so sweet. The author also does a beautiful job of balancing lighthearted romance and whimsy with more serious, grounded moments throughout the story. Due to her parents, Liana has a complicated relationship with her mental health. She accepts that anxiety and depression are always going to be in her life, but can't take any big steps until she's under the college's health insurance. It's a reminder that there isn't one perfect way to address mental health, and that you have to do what's best for you, and I loved seeing her finally be able to take that step in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent
ms bhuiyan, this is the third book of yours to make me hysterically cry. with the extra bonus of me being on public transportation this time. it was so cozy and so loving to read, the theme of grief throughout the book and how people react hurt my soul. also im counting this as fulfilling my rockstar bf trope. thank you.
thank you to netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
thank you to netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I received an egalley of Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan from Inkyard Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Stay with My Heart is my favourite Tashie Bhuiyan read now. It's been awhile since I read a contemporary YA novel in one sitting, late into the night. I just couldn't put it down as I was drawn to Liana and Skyler's story.
Liana accidentally sabotages a local band, The Third Eye, and so she decides to do everything she can to make amends - without telling them how she's further and secretly involved in the situation. But as the summer goes by, she bonds with the boys, especially that of the leader, Skyler, and it becomes harder to keep the secrets that could ruin the friendships she's build with them all.
I really enjoyed the general chemistry of the characters - a found family of sorts. I definitely felt compelled to keep reading to see how it would all play out as Liana was keeping a pretty big secret away from her new friends. While I can understand the reasons behind her keeping things a secret, I also felt very frustrated by them as it also didn't logically make sense to me - in terms of keeping the secret away from her dad, as the secret could also potentially ruin her dad's professional career. But I understood the wanting-to-make-dad-proud and wanting-parental-approval aspect.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable contemporary YA read for me - which is not something that I've been able to say recently. Stay with My Heart was a wonderful reminder of what I do love about Young Adult fiction.
Stay with My Heart is my favourite Tashie Bhuiyan read now. It's been awhile since I read a contemporary YA novel in one sitting, late into the night. I just couldn't put it down as I was drawn to Liana and Skyler's story.
Liana accidentally sabotages a local band, The Third Eye, and so she decides to do everything she can to make amends - without telling them how she's further and secretly involved in the situation. But as the summer goes by, she bonds with the boys, especially that of the leader, Skyler, and it becomes harder to keep the secrets that could ruin the friendships she's build with them all.
I really enjoyed the general chemistry of the characters - a found family of sorts. I definitely felt compelled to keep reading to see how it would all play out as Liana was keeping a pretty big secret away from her new friends. While I can understand the reasons behind her keeping things a secret, I also felt very frustrated by them as it also didn't logically make sense to me - in terms of keeping the secret away from her dad, as the secret could also potentially ruin her dad's professional career. But I understood the wanting-to-make-dad-proud and wanting-parental-approval aspect.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable contemporary YA read for me - which is not something that I've been able to say recently. Stay with My Heart was a wonderful reminder of what I do love about Young Adult fiction.
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Alcohol
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
* arc review *
Counting Down with You is one of my favorite YA romances so I was excited to receive this netgalley arc. This book had everything I needed: humor, found family and romance. Call me messy bessie lol but I couldn't wait to see how the conflict played out because the whole reason Liana is thrown into the mix is because someone manipulates her and she decides to fix it her own way while keeping a secret from the band. All I will say is my heart was racing towards the end...
Counting Down with You is one of my favorite YA romances so I was excited to receive this netgalley arc. This book had everything I needed: humor, found family and romance. Call me messy bessie lol but I couldn't wait to see how the conflict played out because the whole reason Liana is thrown into the mix is because someone manipulates her and she decides to fix it her own way while keeping a secret from the band. All I will say is my heart was racing towards the end...
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
the tashie bhuiyan universe means the world to me :’)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic friendship
Minor: Death of parent