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A review by _isabel_
Second Song by Con Riley
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.5
Freaking adorable. What a resounding success my first Con Riley book was! I can't believe I haven't tackled this author's backlist yet, but "Second Song" was a beautiful introduction to it.
Sweet, soft, lovely, gut-wrenching in the best way possible; a tale of second chances, of healing, of finally finding yourself after years of pain and uncertainty. It made me feel a truckload of emotions, from start to finish, and I absolutely fell in love with all its beautiful, complicated characters, and the beautiful, complicated, wholesome found family they've made for themselves in this dream of a school for second chances: despite not knowing any of these minor characters previously, I fell in love with them so fast, and I also fell in love with the two protagonists. Liam and Rowan were unforgettable MCs: Rowan, with his quiet grit, his bravery, his vulnerabilities, his enormous heart, and Liam with his painful past and present, his sweet gruffness, his protectiveness and the sheer amount of care he has for the people he loves. I loved them individually, and I loved them as a couple too. I have a thing for a good ol' protector/whoops-I'm-a-danger-magnet trope, and they absolutely did not disappoint in that regard: they made me laugh and swoon and sigh, and they had me smiling like a fool from start to finish. They made such a lovely couple.
I loved the side characters, and I seriously cannot wait to go back and meet Charles and the padre, Luke and Austin and all the others from the very start. I'm sure all of their stories will be an emotional, gut-punching ride, and I cannot wait to dive in.
I also adored the writing: it's very evocative and poetic, although at times I had a few difficulties following along. I think it's partly because Rowan's past is pretty much muddled in secrets and events he can't remember, and also because my brain's not at its best at the moment. I'm sure my next Con Riley will be MUCH more easier on my brain now that I know what to expect.
Anyway, I wholly recommend this book: it made me cry, it made me swoon, and I finished it with a huge, proud smile on my face. I adored it!
TWs/CWs: PTSD, war stories, loss of family members, grief, childhood trauma, SA, non-consensual drugging, bullying.
Thanks GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Sweet, soft, lovely, gut-wrenching in the best way possible; a tale of second chances, of healing, of finally finding yourself after years of pain and uncertainty. It made me feel a truckload of emotions, from start to finish, and I absolutely fell in love with all its beautiful, complicated characters, and the beautiful, complicated, wholesome found family they've made for themselves in this dream of a school for second chances: despite not knowing any of these minor characters previously, I fell in love with them so fast, and I also fell in love with the two protagonists. Liam and Rowan were unforgettable MCs: Rowan, with his quiet grit, his bravery, his vulnerabilities, his enormous heart, and Liam with his painful past and present, his sweet gruffness, his protectiveness and the sheer amount of care he has for the people he loves. I loved them individually, and I loved them as a couple too. I have a thing for a good ol' protector/whoops-I'm-a-danger-magnet trope, and they absolutely did not disappoint in that regard: they made me laugh and swoon and sigh, and they had me smiling like a fool from start to finish. They made such a lovely couple.
I loved the side characters, and I seriously cannot wait to go back and meet Charles and the padre, Luke and Austin and all the others from the very start. I'm sure all of their stories will be an emotional, gut-punching ride, and I cannot wait to dive in.
I also adored the writing: it's very evocative and poetic, although at times I had a few difficulties following along. I think it's partly because Rowan's past is pretty much muddled in secrets and events he can't remember, and also because my brain's not at its best at the moment. I'm sure my next Con Riley will be MUCH more easier on my brain now that I know what to expect.
Anyway, I wholly recommend this book: it made me cry, it made me swoon, and I finished it with a huge, proud smile on my face. I adored it!
TWs/CWs: PTSD, war stories, loss of family members, grief, childhood trauma, SA, non-consensual drugging, bullying.
Thanks GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, War, Bullying, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Death