Thursday, August 15, 2013

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales



This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
Published: September 17, 2013 by BYR
Source: ARC from the publisher via netgalley - thanks!
Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together. [goodreads]

When I first came across this book, the title alone jumped out at me.  Countless times I've heard music in my life, especially during my teen years, that I felt literally saved my life.  A certain lyric, a hypnotic voice, a gut wrenching guitar; whatever the melody was that captured me and freed me, I connected with it.  This particular story is about just doing that.  Finding that right tune to symbolize everything in your life, yet representing absolutely nothing at the same time.  Music can be a life source of its own, living and breathing, and we have the power to let it run in our veins.

Elise is that girl you see in the cafeteria lunch room, either eating alone, or with others who fade into the beige walls.  She's only the topic of conversation when someone needs a punching bag.  My heart immediately went out to her, but I didn't want to embrace her and tell her everything would be alright, because I got the sense she was a smart girl and would eventually figure that out.  It would just take time.

In the middle of the night, she stumbles upon an underground dance party, that invites her in to a world she never knew existed.  In this world she can be anyone she wants.  And quickly she is no longer that nobody at school, but the rising DJ of the hottest dance club in town.  Elise knows music, but not the textbook kind.  She feels music all around her, and inside her bones.  It's something she can identify with, and for the first time in a long time is something she can control.

One of my favorite aspects of Leila Sales' writing is her ability to write such fleshed out characters.  I found Elise, Vicky, Char, Mel, and even the school bullies to be real life people, their pulses vibrating off the page.  This attention to characterization truly grabbed me and pulled me into the story, creating a fictional world that I did not want to leave.  Then came the music.  I would catch myself nodding my head to some silent beat that rang in my ears as I read each song mentioned chapter after chapter.  I was having my own personal dance party, right alongside Elise and Vicky.

When a book begins with this song, and ends with that one, you know you just experienced something great.  I feel like Leila reached into my own playlists and pulled out two songs that would not only define Elise's story so well, but cause me to fall in love with it, too.

image taken from an egalley ARC

This novel will win over fans of contemporary, especially those who appreciate stories about characters overcoming hardships in life, especially involving music to fuel those leaps above and beyond.  I have so much admiration for Leila Sales, and this story in particular.  I hope others will experience it and perhaps find their song that just might save their life, too.


7 comments:

  1. Oooo this sounds fantastic! Looking forward to its release!

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  2. This sounds like a very nice read. I think we all can relate to music playing an important role in our lives at some point and time. It definitely did/does for me. Thanks for the review! :)

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  3. Great review! I am so excited for this one. I completely get what you're saying about a line from a song being so meaningful, I've always felt really attached to song lyrics.

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  4. I loved this book two pieces I literally read it in 24 hours it was that good! Lovely review :)

    Paige @ Comfort Books

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  5. Everyone has said just how awesome this one is! I love a book that deals with music, especially more contemporary music. Music is such a huge part of my life and I love when lyrics "speak" to me - can't wait to read this one for that very reason!

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  6. I keep saying I'm starting this and I haven't yet. I really really want to read it this weekend but but but. haha. Thanks for the great review. I knew the music would really hook you in this one, but I'm glad to hear the characterization and everything else adds up.

    eee!

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  7. Oh my goodness, I loved this book. I could seriously relate to it and I felt for Elise. Also, the music was awesome! By the way, I was totally that girl who sat by herself in the lunch room and blended into the background... le sigh. Great review, Ginger!

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