The Music of Us

Review Quotes:
After reuniting to help cats in need, estranged best friends find love in this debut. Luciana 'Lucy' Melrose loved Jake Moody when they met at 11. She loved him when he left Somerset at 14 for his big break, with a sweet kiss and the promise to always be there for her. Now, four years later, she doesn't want to love him--after all, he ghosted her and broke her heart. But the Tiny Tiger, her mom's cat cafe, is in trouble: They don't have enough customers, and there are so many cats who need adoption. Lucy's old friend, now a member of the hit boy band the Usual Suspects, might be the answer. Lucy sends Jake an email, hoping for fundraising help, which turns into an in-person visit and a plan for his band to perform a livestreamed show to help the cafe. The chapters begin with epigraphs of song lyrics, interviews, and articles that hint at what's coming. Balancing the right amount of swooniness and flirtation, Alexandrea sprinkles in pop-culture references and classic romance tropes. The relationship between the white-presenting leads is tame, with a will-they, won't-they tension steadily building through embraces and near-kisses. Through the first-person narrative, readers watch as Lucy grows, coming to terms with her past both with and without Jake, and navigates the changes and uncertainty that teens often feel as they go from the teen years to early adulthood. Fans of friends-to-more and second-chance rom-coms will find much to enjoy.--Kirkus Reviews

Review Quotes:
Gr 9 Up--A heartfelt, warm, and emotionally grounded contemporary romance that blends small-town charm with the dizzying highs and lows of fame. The story opens with a sweet, nostalgic prologue: two childhood best friends, Luciana (Lucy) and Jake, tucked away in a cozy cat cafand eacute; as Lucy studies for a spelling bee and Jake dreams of a future in music. Their playful conversation about destiny sets the tone for a relationship rooted in deep familiarity and innocence. Four years later, the narrative shifts into a richer, more complex world. Lucy is now running her family's struggling cat cafand eacute;, forced into responsibility as her mother recovers from an injury. Jake, meanwhile, has risen to fame as the 'bad boy' of a wildly popular boy band, a persona far removed from the boy Lucy once knew. Their reunion begins not with romance, but practicality: Lucy needs a promotional boost to save the cafand eacute;, and Jake's management sees the partnership as a savvy PR move. What follows is a tender and slow-burn rediscovery. Alexandrea writes beautifully about the tensions between past and present, fame and authenticity, anger and longing. Lucy's frustration at Jake's disappearance feels raw and justified, while Jake's restrictive, exhausting life in the spotlight adds surprising depth to his character. The addition of Jake's supportive bandmates brings warmth and humor, turning the effort to save the cafand eacute; into a collaborative quest filled with charm. Ultimately, this is a gentle, uplifting story about second chances, the pressures of ambition, and love that never fully fades. Characters cue white. VERDICT A comforting read perfect for fans of small-town romances and music-industry drama alike.--Haley Amendt--School Library Journal

Publisher Marketing:

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

A fun and flirty contemporary YA novel between a cat café barista and a boy band pop star that hits all the right notes! The Music of Us is a laugh-out-loud friends-to-more romance perfect for fans of Kasie West, Beth Reekles, and Lynn Painter.

If life came with a playlist, Lucy's current era would be "stressed girl summer." While her friends are out enjoying the last summer before college, Lucy has her hands full managing her mom's quirky cat café. But with the fancy new coffee shop across the street, how will she attract enough customers to adopt the cats--or even pay the rent?

In a desperate moment, Lucy emails her ex-best friend (and first crush) Jake Moody, who's now the resident bad boy in the massively popular boy band the Usual Suspects. Lucy hasn't spoken to him in years--not since he kissed her and left for auditions without a backward glance. Which she's totally not holding a grudge about, thanks for asking.

To her surprise, Jake is all in on hosting a livestream performance to raise support for the café--and salvage his image after his most recent scandal. As Jake and Lucy work together to corral his bandmates and plan the livestream, she finds her old feelings resurfacing despite her firm intentions to keep her distance. Is it possible the old Jake she knew is still hiding under his new rebellious image?

Review Citations:

• School Library Journal 04/01/2026 pg. 79 (EAN 9780310182399, Hardcover)
• Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2026 (EAN 9780310182399, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:Alexandrea, Emerald

Emerald Alexandrea believes in the power of love, music, and happy endings. You're most likely to find her getting lost in a good book or a great song. She lives in California with her beloved packed bookshelves, vinyl collection, way too many coffee mugs, and the world's best developmental editor, Midnight, who accepts payment in the form of tuna flakes. She's currently working on her next novel, and is probably talking about plot points out loud to herself while her cat ignores her.