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4.5 stars
I loved this a whole lot, which is great, because I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting into when I checked this out of the library based ENTIRELY on cover...
I'm not a musician at all, but there was something so immersive about how Gabel wrote those bits as if all her audience would understand. I loved the four main characters, for as flawed as they were. This is an introspective, plot-light novel. It's heavy on feelings and the relationship between the four main characters. Even so, there is something left just beyond our reach with each of these characters. We jump around their lives and leave the story feeling like there was more to be told. While I can see why that would be frustrating to some readers, it worked for me here. The entire time I was in this story, I felt on the edge of being heartbroken. It fits with the story that we come to know these characters so well and yet we find they aren't completely knowable.
A beautiful debut and an author to follow!
I just loved this one. Recommended for fans of The Immortalists - great character development. The last notes were still ringing in my head when I went to sleep.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was well-written, compelling, and full of characters that were so very human they made my heart ache a little.
Recommended!
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book because the hype had turned me off. I looooved the music woven throughout, and I'm so excited to listen to the playlist on Spotify. At times, the characters could feel juvenile or selfish, but I thought the author did a great job rounding them out and showing how complex they were. It reminded me of The Interestings, by Meg Wolitzer, and at other points, The Small Rain and Certain Women, by Madeleine L'Engle, which are both about pursuing art as a career. The book also made me think of my friend, Abby, who is an arts administrator, and I recommended it to her before I even finished it. I'm really glad I read this book, and it lived up to the hype for me.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book because the hype had turned me off. I looooved the music woven throughout, and I'm so excited to listen to the playlist on Spotify. At times, the characters could feel juvenile or selfish, but I thought the author did a great job rounding them out and showing how complex they were. It reminded me of The Interestings, by Meg Wolitzer, and at other points, The Small Rain and Certain Women, by Madeleine L'Engle, which are both about pursuing art as a career. The book also made me think of my friend, Abby, who is an arts administrator, and I recommended it to her before I even finished it. I'm really glad I read this book, and it lived up to the hype for me.
3.75 star read... I wanted to love everything about this book. But I kept comparing the structure and character development to that of “The Interestings,” and this book did not hit the same mark. Though the writing was gorgeous and I enjoyed how Gabel described emotions and conversations with such rich prose, none of the characters seemed distinct enough for me. Brit/Jana’s ponderings seemed too similar, as well as Henry/Daniel which made an already slow book seem even slower. At the end of “The Interestings” I wished I could continue reading about characters that seemed so lifelike, while I was happy to see “The Ensemble” come to a close. Also, I do not think this book would be enjoyable at all if the reader didn’t have somewhat of a music background, like I have. It did inspire me to want to play the violin and piano more regularly!
3.5 ⭐️ minimal plot, but enjoyable. Unique setting, which i really enjoyed.