4.5 stars

Okay, if you are or were a band kid, you're going to love this. If you weren't, but you get band kids, then it's likely you'll love this. I belong in the latter category and I really did love this story. I loved Anna and Weston's love story but I also really loved Ratio and his relationship with both Weston and Anna. This was a beautiful story of first loves, and I definitely had many tears at the end, but my only complaint is that the blurb really does give a lot away, so I knew where the story had to go. In that sense, it felt predictable to me. That said, I loved the note of hope that the ending left us with. The author did a great job using music to tie them together and there were many times I wished I could actually hear the music. In this respect, I think this could make a great movie. I also loved the story of the Kaua'i'o'o bird and how the author used it in this story. I looked up the bird and yes, it is extinct, but I love the hope that comes from thinking of the bird and its call to its mate.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book is being published February 22 so look for your copy soon.