Scarlett is spending the summer after high school with her grandfather in the small town of Oakboro, ostensibly to look after him. But it's also an opportunity for Scarlett to distance herself from the grief of losing her older brother, Liam, to an accidental drug overdose. Liam was a gifted musician who taught Scarlett to play guitar, but she's been unable to touch an instrument since his death. So when a local band invites Scarlett to play with them, she's thrilled to be making music again and to attract the attention of the hot-but-irresponsible lead singer, Declan. But will Scarlett be able to recognize the folly of her crush before losing her chances with Zach, a truly talented songwriter and altogether good guy? While the plot is safely predictable, the infusion of original music lyrics and the satisfying descriptions of musical harmony give this story added appeal. In addition, Scarlett's interactions with her family and community are fresh and believable. Fans of Alecia Whitaker's Wildflower series will like this blend of tentative romance, music, and family.

After the death of her brother, Scarlett finds solace and romance by joining a band. The white teen is spending the summer at Grandpa's house in Georgia before starting college. Her beloved brother has recently died of a prescription drug overdose after a long struggle with addiction. Within short order she mingles with and joins the small town's main musical interest, a band called the Beastings. It takes merely moments before Scarlett is smitten by the gorgeous and careless lead singer, Declan. As she gains a deeper understanding of the other members, especially guitarist Zach, it becomes clear that tensions are mounting within the band. Scarlett's relationship with her best friend, Varun, gay and of Indian descent, is also suddenly mysteriously strained. Told through Scarlett's intimate and sometimes-droll perspective, the story touches on the timely topic of opioid addiction while maintaining a swift and light narrative flow. However, the song lyrics and musical descriptions leave something to be desired: "Zach lurches into a searing solo that sounds like a car engine revving" is not atypical. When all is said and done, the key characters in this mostly pleasant drama stumble then pick themselves back up having learned something about grief and loyalty. Grandpa's small Georgia town seems to be a pretty white one. A topical musical romance that mostly hits the right notes. (Fiction. 14-18)