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knunderb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Vomit, and Alcohol
mallorypen's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
All of the main characters - Kito, Mr. C, Emmett, Ojima - had strong character voices. I felt like I got a really solid sense of who they were, without leaning too heavily on stereotyping to get the reader there. That’s not to say there weren’t tropes, but I thought they were used with sensitivity. The longing Kito feels throughout his life - for music, for acceptance, for Emmett, for a purpose for his gifts - was a consistent theme throughout the story, and the music of music as a metaphor wasn’t overdone.
There were a few things that brought my overall rating down. The pace of the story was overall rather slow - it allowed for a really beautiful slow burn between Emmett and Kito, but sometimes I just wanted the story to pick up. I also felt that there wasn’t anything surprising about the story, and part of that was in the author’s (sometimes heavy handed) use of foreshadowing. Obviously the relationship with Mark wasn’t going to work and he was set up with the perfect person to cheat with; obviously Emmett was in love with Kito since high school. Obviously Kito was going to find his voice and purpose by following his father’s footsteps into the main thing that tied his family together, and the writing was on the wall that Emmett and Kito would end up together. I wasn’t expecting the assumed assault, but it ended up being something of a non-issue when the story was all told. For all the beauty of the slow burn, there just wasn’t much tension throughout the plot. And lastly, there were a few moments where the sentimentality got a little thick for me.
The reader did a GREAT job - accents, singing, near-tears delivery and all!
Moderate: Homophobia and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Dominic Lim’s debut novel, All the Right Notes, heart-warming novel featuring a romance decades in the making and a powerful relationship between father and son.
When Quito Cruz gets an unexpected request from his dad to help in leading his retirement concert but also get Hollywood superstar Emmett Aoki to perform in the concert, he doesn’t know what to think. After not speaking in over two decades, Quito is surprised that Emmett happily agrees and later comes to find that their connection becomes more intense than it ever has before.
Adopting a then/now alternate POV, Lim really gets at the heart of telling the timeline between Quito’s and Emmett’s relationship from their first choir rehearsal together during high school to college to finally the present day with organizing the concert. I think this adds a really interesting dynamic to the plot and it helps with understanding the nature of their relationship between the present-day narrative. Though, near the end of the “then” chapters, I don't really know what to feel about that plot twist.
Likewise, there’s some solid character development in All the Right Notes. Alongside Quito and Emmett defining their relationship as well as growing within their perspective fields, you also get some insight on how some of the side characters develop in the book. From Ujima’s positive portrayal of discovering the right gender expression to Mr. Cruz’s dedication for wanting the best for Quito, you really get some well-thought out characters that you’ll enjoy reading about.
Overall, All the Right Notes is definitely a novel to check out this summer for a heart-warming read of music, family, and finding love.
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Drug use, Blood, Car accident, and Alcohol
imstephtacular's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Car accident, Outing, and Alcohol
louisekf's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Death of parent and Outing
Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol