From the very first page of this book, I knew it was going to be an instant hit for me. I remember first picking it up and thinking it was going to be one of those quick and cute love stories, but MAN, was I wrong! This book was so intense (of the good kind!) and made my heart race so fast that I just couldn’t stop reading it! This book follows the protagonist, Ruby Chertok, struggling, coming to terms with the fact that her first love, music/ piano, doesn’t “love” her as much as she does. Ruby’s lack of musical talent and skills, which all her famous family members have been gifted with, leaves her feeling useless and not worthy of love. She starts to go on a journey of self discovery, and who she is as a person, in her world of gifted musicians. I loved how there was so much character development in almost all of the characters introduced and I was all for that! Especially with Ruby, where she grew so much, thanks to help from the people she involved herself with, her surroundings, and by learning to love and respect herself. There were many instances in which I felt like I could relate to Ruby in so many aspects– from finding yourself, all the way to accepting that you can’t always make people like you, when it shouldn’t even be important to do so! Ruby wasn’t a perfect character by any means and that’s what made her so fun to read about because she was relatable! She got jealous, she got mad, and probably said some things where she was better off not saying, but she was real! We’ve all been there, done that. I enjoyed reading those struggles in a different perspective. Learning about the ways she solved her problems in a way I wouldn’t have done. Oh, and how can I forget about the wonderful, charming, pianist and composer, Oscar Bell! Reading the love that blossomed between Ruby and Oscar was so beautiful to read about and it makes me heart warm up just thinking about it. Honestly, Oscar was just such a blast to read about and I loved the type of person HE was. How he didn’t try to sugar-coat things to Ruby or try to make her feel better through lying! He was as real as her and I think that’s why they clicked so well, to be honest. They both encouraged each other, let the other grow, but weren’t afraid of letting each other know when they were in the wrong about something. I also love how the author, Jenn Marie Throne, delved into topics like privilege, diversity, and racial inequality that can come with the world of classical music. I wasn’t ever aware of these problems that occurred for people involved in classical music before reading this book. Although, having learned it now, it made me realize how real and true of a problem that is today in this world. All things considered, Thorne did an exceptional job delivering a story about the beauty of love between two people and their connection with music. Do yourself a favor and get your hands on this book! You definitely won’t regret it;) :)