What do you think?
Rate this book
Porcelain Keys
Aria's life is full of secrets--secrets about her mother's death, her father's cruelty, and her dream to go to Juilliard. When Aria meets Thomas, he draws out her secrets, captures her heart, and gives her the courage to defy her father. But when tragedy strikes and Thomas disappears, Aria is left alone to transform her broken heart's melody into something beautiful. Porcelain Keys is a captivating love story that will resonate long after the last page is turned.
352 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published February 10, 2014
9 people are currently reading
2527 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Beard
5 books144 followersSarah Beard is the author of YA novels PORCELAIN KEYS and BEYOND THE RISING TIDE. She earned a degree in communication from the University of Utah and an MFA in creative writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. You can follow Sarah at instagram.com/authorsarahbeard. Her website is www.authorsarahbeard.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
October 31, 2014
I haven't read a book that has evoked so many emotions within me in such a long time! I wasn't expecting depth--I was expecting fluff, but depth is what I got. And I don't regret it at all.
Aria is such a strong girl and dreams of following her heart. When it matters most, she is able to stand up for herself and what she loves, even though her heart is torn in two. She loves her father and forgives him time and time again, yet she finally breaks free and allows herself to find her true passion--music. Thomas is a rock in her tempest-tossed life and he becomes a major part of her world. All of that is throw to the wind one night and once again, she is left to find her way through life alone again. A new friend and a new love help her heal, along with her music. Secrets are revealed that completely change everything--they were definitely unexpected twists for me.
I loved the friendships developed with Nathaniel, Devin, and Vivian. I loved the music--I could visualize it all in my mind. My emotions were all over the place--compassion, fear, joy, love, sadness, etc. I loved every minute of the ride I took while reading this story.
Content: some brief and casual mentions/implications of drinking, abuse, etc, but definitely considered CLEAN!
Aria is such a strong girl and dreams of following her heart. When it matters most, she is able to stand up for herself and what she loves, even though her heart is torn in two. She loves her father and forgives him time and time again, yet she finally breaks free and allows herself to find her true passion--music. Thomas is a rock in her tempest-tossed life and he becomes a major part of her world. All of that is throw to the wind one night and once again, she is left to find her way through life alone again. A new friend and a new love help her heal, along with her music. Secrets are revealed that completely change everything--they were definitely unexpected twists for me.
I loved the friendships developed with Nathaniel, Devin, and Vivian. I loved the music--I could visualize it all in my mind. My emotions were all over the place--compassion, fear, joy, love, sadness, etc. I loved every minute of the ride I took while reading this story.
Content: some brief and casual mentions/implications of drinking, abuse, etc, but definitely considered CLEAN!
August 24, 2014
The title of this book led me to believe that it was about a piano, but it's not. It's about a girl that cries all the time. Boooooring! Don't waste your time with this one. I gave it two stars instead of one because I don't remember any spelling or grammatical errors.
"I felt...the moisture gathering on my lashes..."
"I buried my head in my arms and released the tears."
"Tears welled up in my eyes..."
"Tears clouded my vision..."
"I pressed my hands over my ears, trying to block out the sound of my own anguished cries."
"...tears seemed to spring out of nowhere."
"I swiped at a runaway tear..."
"I cried my own silent tears..."
"He put his palm on my cheek and wiped away the tears that were spilling over."
"I cried the entire way home..."
"I swiped at my tears..."
"...I shed a few more tears."
"I wiped the back of my hand across my cheek..."
"[He] handed me a tissue, and my hand trembled as I lifted it to wipe my eyes."
"I swallowed back the rising tears..."
"The tears wouldn't stop..."
"I wiped my tears..."
"Tears rolled down my cheeks..."
"...tears brimming on my lashes..."
"I...released quiet sobs..."
"I bent my head and released a wave of silent tears."
"After a few minutes and a lot of tears..."
"Helpless to restrain the flood of tears..."
"I dropped my head and cried..."
"...tears pricked my eyes."
"...tears trickled down my cheeks..."
"Tears welled up in my eyes..."
"This brought on a whole new round of tears..."
"I felt...the moisture gathering on my lashes..."
"I buried my head in my arms and released the tears."
"Tears welled up in my eyes..."
"Tears clouded my vision..."
"I pressed my hands over my ears, trying to block out the sound of my own anguished cries."
"...tears seemed to spring out of nowhere."
"I swiped at a runaway tear..."
"I cried my own silent tears..."
"He put his palm on my cheek and wiped away the tears that were spilling over."
"I cried the entire way home..."
"I swiped at my tears..."
"...I shed a few more tears."
"I wiped the back of my hand across my cheek..."
"[He] handed me a tissue, and my hand trembled as I lifted it to wipe my eyes."
"I swallowed back the rising tears..."
"The tears wouldn't stop..."
"I wiped my tears..."
"Tears rolled down my cheeks..."
"...tears brimming on my lashes..."
"I...released quiet sobs..."
"I bent my head and released a wave of silent tears."
"After a few minutes and a lot of tears..."
"Helpless to restrain the flood of tears..."
"I dropped my head and cried..."
"...tears pricked my eyes."
"...tears trickled down my cheeks..."
"Tears welled up in my eyes..."
"This brought on a whole new round of tears..."
February 7, 2014
Aria's mother is dead. She lives with her father, who is battling his own deamons and is far from being a reliable parent. Aria's lonely, often even scared for her safety, lost. She dreams of moving away from home and starting over. But there are secrets in her past, secrets involving her mother's death and her father's descent into alcoholism, secrets she needs to deal with before she can ever truly be free. And it will take the healing power of love to give her the strength to tackle them.
Porcelain Keys is a beautifully written, lyrical tale of love, healing power of music, grief, broken trust, redemption, staying true to yourself and following your dreams. Crafted with care and passion, it's a very emotional story that pulls on your heartstrings and fills your soul with gently flowing melody. Sarah Beard weaves together a mesmerizing, gut-wrenching family drama, captivating mystery and heartbreaking love story, and she enriches it further with themes of music and art. The result is breathtaking. I absolutely loved every second of this book. I wouldn't call it a quick, breeze-through kind of read, but it was certainly a completely absorbing, intensely moving one.
The character development was simply phenomenal. I loved Aria. I thought she was a brilliant, realistically drawn and fresh character. Her emtions were real, and it didn't take long for me to connect with her. I appreciated her vibrant personality and quiet strength of character. She was a very sensitive person - one that would feel more than other people in her life, and possibly understand more, too - but she wasn't weak or whiny. She never gave up on her dreams, she was persistent and not afraid to take risks. Life was never easy on her, but every time she'd fall down, she'd pick herself up, dust herself off and try to move on. I admired that about her.
Thomas' character was a fantastic one, too, and his presence in the story - and in Aria's life - was crucial. He was a very positive, caring and warm type of person, and it's thanks to him Aria opened up and stood up to her dad. He was her cataclyst and her island of peace. At the same time, though, I really loved that their relationship wasn't rushed. They were obviously curious about each other and attracted to one another from the very beginning, but there was also a certain amount of hesitation and shyness involved. Uncertainty. The build up was pleasantly slow and therefore more realistic than in a typical YA novel. I personally loved that about this book!
While the story centres around Aria and Thomas' relationship and the way these two slowly opened up and healed each other, there are other, very important themes tackled in this book as well, including (but not limited to) physical and emotional abuse, alcoholism, loss, grief and violence. The plot line is layered with important messages, insightful observations and eye-opening moments of clarity. It's a very emotional read, but also smart and powerful one, and I'm certain that you'll be reeling from it for a very long time. It's definitely not a cliched boy-meets-girl book, no, Porcelain Keys is highly original, deeply atmospheric and profoundly meaningful. And it's not a book you'll read, put down and forget about, but one that will stay with you. One you'll want to get back to time and time again.
This book deserves a special place on your bookshelf and a special place in your heart.
Porcelain Keys is a beautifully written, lyrical tale of love, healing power of music, grief, broken trust, redemption, staying true to yourself and following your dreams. Crafted with care and passion, it's a very emotional story that pulls on your heartstrings and fills your soul with gently flowing melody. Sarah Beard weaves together a mesmerizing, gut-wrenching family drama, captivating mystery and heartbreaking love story, and she enriches it further with themes of music and art. The result is breathtaking. I absolutely loved every second of this book. I wouldn't call it a quick, breeze-through kind of read, but it was certainly a completely absorbing, intensely moving one.
The character development was simply phenomenal. I loved Aria. I thought she was a brilliant, realistically drawn and fresh character. Her emtions were real, and it didn't take long for me to connect with her. I appreciated her vibrant personality and quiet strength of character. She was a very sensitive person - one that would feel more than other people in her life, and possibly understand more, too - but she wasn't weak or whiny. She never gave up on her dreams, she was persistent and not afraid to take risks. Life was never easy on her, but every time she'd fall down, she'd pick herself up, dust herself off and try to move on. I admired that about her.
Thomas' character was a fantastic one, too, and his presence in the story - and in Aria's life - was crucial. He was a very positive, caring and warm type of person, and it's thanks to him Aria opened up and stood up to her dad. He was her cataclyst and her island of peace. At the same time, though, I really loved that their relationship wasn't rushed. They were obviously curious about each other and attracted to one another from the very beginning, but there was also a certain amount of hesitation and shyness involved. Uncertainty. The build up was pleasantly slow and therefore more realistic than in a typical YA novel. I personally loved that about this book!
While the story centres around Aria and Thomas' relationship and the way these two slowly opened up and healed each other, there are other, very important themes tackled in this book as well, including (but not limited to) physical and emotional abuse, alcoholism, loss, grief and violence. The plot line is layered with important messages, insightful observations and eye-opening moments of clarity. It's a very emotional read, but also smart and powerful one, and I'm certain that you'll be reeling from it for a very long time. It's definitely not a cliched boy-meets-girl book, no, Porcelain Keys is highly original, deeply atmospheric and profoundly meaningful. And it's not a book you'll read, put down and forget about, but one that will stay with you. One you'll want to get back to time and time again.
This book deserves a special place on your bookshelf and a special place in your heart.
August 10, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed every last page of this book. Porcelain Keys is a beautiful, heartfelt love story about two broken lives that fit together to become whole. I loved it. The author used exquisite imagery throughout the book, and I couldn't help being swept away on the strains of music that filled the pages.
The characters are flawed, which makes them relatable and lovable. They both have to overcome so much. They learn to deal with their individual demons and give forgiveness where it is needed. More than anything, they learn to let go and love each other.
The book is a lot longer than most YA I've read, and it also spans a couple of years. I was surprised that didn't bother me, since I don't usually like books that cover long periods of time. But I fell in love with the characters and the way the author writes. It was one of those books that I kept thinking about, even when I wasn't reading it. It is a sweet story about love, forgiveness, and strength.
Content: Domestic violence with very few details. Clean otherwise.
My blog: Batch of Books
The characters are flawed, which makes them relatable and lovable. They both have to overcome so much. They learn to deal with their individual demons and give forgiveness where it is needed. More than anything, they learn to let go and love each other.
The book is a lot longer than most YA I've read, and it also spans a couple of years. I was surprised that didn't bother me, since I don't usually like books that cover long periods of time. But I fell in love with the characters and the way the author writes. It was one of those books that I kept thinking about, even when I wasn't reading it. It is a sweet story about love, forgiveness, and strength.
Content: Domestic violence with very few details. Clean otherwise.
My blog: Batch of Books
January 3, 2016
Oh my gosh, a beautifully written full of emotions book! I got the book because of its title and to read it for a challenge. I had to find a book whose main character enjoyed something that I enjoy. I read that Aria liked piano so I got this book.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but I thought it would be possibly even more about music; however, it was about an abusive household (a widower/father), friendship, passion for something you love, fear, secrets everywhere. A young Aria and Thomas somehow become good friends and it's beautiful to watch their relationship grow and change and be so real to life.
Recommendation: I loved the book and the various characters were so real to me. I definitely say pick this one up!
I wasn't sure what to expect, but I thought it would be possibly even more about music; however, it was about an abusive household (a widower/father), friendship, passion for something you love, fear, secrets everywhere. A young Aria and Thomas somehow become good friends and it's beautiful to watch their relationship grow and change and be so real to life.
Recommendation: I loved the book and the various characters were so real to me. I definitely say pick this one up!
Want to read
May 21, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/21/2020)! 🎁
Want to read
May 23, 2020FREE e-book https://amzn.to/2AWYlaH
(5/23/20)
(5/23/20)
February 20, 2014
Aria's mother died a few years ago and her father doesn't want any reminders of her so they don't talk about her and the music room is locked shut. Aria likes to break in when her father is gone but if he catches her when he comes home and he's drunk, she's in trouble. She can run faster than him so she heads to their neighbors treehouse when that happens and that is where she meets Thomas one night. He is so kind to her and becomes her friend. She doesn't need to worry about a relationship with him because he told her he doesn't date, but doesn't fill in the details (at least not right away). They do start to care about each other but soon tragedy strikes and he disappears. How will Aria move on with Thomas no longer in her life?
This book is amazing!! It shows the power of music, friendship, love and second chances. I loved Aria and Thomas and how their relationship helped each other get through difficult circumstances. Thomas encouraged her to chase after her dream and helped her find a way to make it happen.
Nathaniel, Vivian and Devin were great secondary characters and I liked her relationships with each of them as well. Nathaniel helped her fulfill her Juilliard dream and provided her with safety. I loved how Vivian came over to help her prepare for the dance and acted as her fairy godmother. Devin grew on me and I was glad he was able to befriend her and help her through a rough time.
This book is an emotional roller coaster. I was happy and sad, I laughed and I cried, and the ending was perfect! There are quite a few secrets and as they are revealed, her father's behavior makes more sense (even though how he behaved is still not okay). This is a book I highly recommend and will definitely read again. I only have one warning: Once you start, it will be almost impossible to put down!
Mel's Shelves
This book is amazing!! It shows the power of music, friendship, love and second chances. I loved Aria and Thomas and how their relationship helped each other get through difficult circumstances. Thomas encouraged her to chase after her dream and helped her find a way to make it happen.
Nathaniel, Vivian and Devin were great secondary characters and I liked her relationships with each of them as well. Nathaniel helped her fulfill her Juilliard dream and provided her with safety. I loved how Vivian came over to help her prepare for the dance and acted as her fairy godmother. Devin grew on me and I was glad he was able to befriend her and help her through a rough time.
This book is an emotional roller coaster. I was happy and sad, I laughed and I cried, and the ending was perfect! There are quite a few secrets and as they are revealed, her father's behavior makes more sense (even though how he behaved is still not okay). This is a book I highly recommend and will definitely read again. I only have one warning: Once you start, it will be almost impossible to put down!
Mel's Shelves
June 6, 2016
I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
I was very happy when I finally found the chance to review this book! Aria's and Thomas's story is bittersweet full of music and love for life.
Aria lives with her father and after the death of her mother her life is hard and abusive. When she meets Thomas, her life both in school and in general will change for better. She will learn more about her love for piano and Thomas will become her best friend. When a horrible accident will force them apart both Thomas and Aria will learn more about family, love and the hardship of moving on.
I loved the narrator's voice and her ability to bring all the characters' voices in life. The story was sweet and with some surprises and the ending was quite satisfying. If you love a quick, lovely read then this book is for you. ;)
I was very happy when I finally found the chance to review this book! Aria's and Thomas's story is bittersweet full of music and love for life.
Aria lives with her father and after the death of her mother her life is hard and abusive. When she meets Thomas, her life both in school and in general will change for better. She will learn more about her love for piano and Thomas will become her best friend. When a horrible accident will force them apart both Thomas and Aria will learn more about family, love and the hardship of moving on.
I loved the narrator's voice and her ability to bring all the characters' voices in life. The story was sweet and with some surprises and the ending was quite satisfying. If you love a quick, lovely read then this book is for you. ;)
October 22, 2013
I reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, supplied by the author.
“Porcelain Keys” is a well-crafted story that is guaranteed to make you cry, smile, cheer, and cry some more. The author uses not only words to tell her heart-warming story, but she also taps into the powerful language of music, making this a unique and fulfilling read. Aria is a heroine worth rooting for, and the plot is an emotional melody that weaves a spell so potent, it can only be broken by reaching the end. And even then, I couldn’t stop thinking about Aria and her story.
A also like how the book bridges the gap between the Young Adult and New Adult genres. I won't spoil the plot by telling you how much I loved the different characters, but if you're in the mood for a contemporary romance with heart, this one's for you!
“Porcelain Keys” is a well-crafted story that is guaranteed to make you cry, smile, cheer, and cry some more. The author uses not only words to tell her heart-warming story, but she also taps into the powerful language of music, making this a unique and fulfilling read. Aria is a heroine worth rooting for, and the plot is an emotional melody that weaves a spell so potent, it can only be broken by reaching the end. And even then, I couldn’t stop thinking about Aria and her story.
A also like how the book bridges the gap between the Young Adult and New Adult genres. I won't spoil the plot by telling you how much I loved the different characters, but if you're in the mood for a contemporary romance with heart, this one's for you!
October 8, 2013
At times heart breaking and at others emotionally lifting, Porcelain Keys is a fresh, heart wrenching take on boy-meets-girl. Two broken characters come together to begin the long, hard process of helping one another heal, but only if they can allow themselves to open enough to be healed.
Beard uses fantastic imagery through music to tell the tragic story of Aria and Thomas, taking the reader along on a swelling crescendo as if we're part of the song—and what a beautiful song it is. Strong writing, enthralling characters, realistic situations, and a love story to root for make this book a must-have for anyone who loves a well told story.
Beard uses fantastic imagery through music to tell the tragic story of Aria and Thomas, taking the reader along on a swelling crescendo as if we're part of the song—and what a beautiful song it is. Strong writing, enthralling characters, realistic situations, and a love story to root for make this book a must-have for anyone who loves a well told story.
January 23, 2014
Wow, I was drawn in from the get go with this debut novel! The characters are beautifully drawn and I thought the story was exceptional. Not to mention, I loved the music aspect of the story as Aria seeks to follow in her mother's footsteps to become a professional musician. The story is filled with secrets, twists, and turns. I look forward to reading Sarah Beard's next novel!
August 18, 2021
I loved this book so much— I couldn’t put the book down and ended up finishing it in one day. Being a pianist, I connected with aria so much through her emotional connection to music. I loved her relationship with Nathaniel, and loved the storyline of her relationship with her dad (as sad as it was). I can’t forget to mention Thomas, who was obviously my favorite. Each character tied together at the end really well and I felt that each person had a string reason for being in the book, and the author did an amazing job of bringing the end all together. Such a good read!
December 25, 2014
ACTUAL RATING: 4.50/5
I had entered multiple giveaways for this book and haven't won. So I was really happy when I found it at the library and I was even able to finish Christmas Eve. The plot was so good and beautiful. It had music, love, heartbreak, pain, forgiveness, family, and so much more. I fell in love with the characters and was rooting for them till the end. I loved every part of it and there was a part where there was a lag in plot and lost my interest. But I was soon able to get back into it. But for characters, well I hats lot to say. Aria for one was great and I loved her. I understand all the pain she had from the beginning with her dad and her mom's death five years prior. But I also understood her passion for the piano and how she put her heart and would into playing. She gave it her all and you could just notice the talent she had. Her dad may have done things that weren't good, but towards the end he was trying to change and be better. He really loved her and wanted to change. Thomas was just so good and I loved him with Aria. Sure he did things that hurt her, like disappearing. But he felt guilty and guilt can cause you to make the wrong choices. But he wanted to fix his mistakes and not once had he stopped loving Aria. He had her whole heart and she loved him to the end. He was in pain and she was too, so they helped each other even when they weren't together. Devin was a good guy and he was a great friend to Aria when she needed it, but he wasn't the one she loved. He was patient with her and helped her heal, but he was never going to have her whole heart and wasn't her first love. He is always going to be the friend she needs. Lastly there is Vivian and Nathanel. Vivian was a great neighbor to Aria and really helped bring her dad together when they got married. Nathaniel played a big part in the book and when you read you'll sunder stand how he is a big part of Aria and who she really needs as a fatherly figure. He helped her with the piano and helped get her dream to go to Julliard fulfilled. I thought he was great and sweet with Aria and gave her really good advice. The ending was just so sweet and gave me tears of happiness it was the perfect ending and exactly what Aria and Thomas needed. This was an amazing book and even though I didn't win any giveaways for it, I was happy to get it from the library. Amazing book and I look forward to rereading it again at some point. Enjoy!!!!
I had entered multiple giveaways for this book and haven't won. So I was really happy when I found it at the library and I was even able to finish Christmas Eve. The plot was so good and beautiful. It had music, love, heartbreak, pain, forgiveness, family, and so much more. I fell in love with the characters and was rooting for them till the end. I loved every part of it and there was a part where there was a lag in plot and lost my interest. But I was soon able to get back into it. But for characters, well I hats lot to say. Aria for one was great and I loved her. I understand all the pain she had from the beginning with her dad and her mom's death five years prior. But I also understood her passion for the piano and how she put her heart and would into playing. She gave it her all and you could just notice the talent she had. Her dad may have done things that weren't good, but towards the end he was trying to change and be better. He really loved her and wanted to change. Thomas was just so good and I loved him with Aria. Sure he did things that hurt her, like disappearing. But he felt guilty and guilt can cause you to make the wrong choices. But he wanted to fix his mistakes and not once had he stopped loving Aria. He had her whole heart and she loved him to the end. He was in pain and she was too, so they helped each other even when they weren't together. Devin was a good guy and he was a great friend to Aria when she needed it, but he wasn't the one she loved. He was patient with her and helped her heal, but he was never going to have her whole heart and wasn't her first love. He is always going to be the friend she needs. Lastly there is Vivian and Nathanel. Vivian was a great neighbor to Aria and really helped bring her dad together when they got married. Nathaniel played a big part in the book and when you read you'll sunder stand how he is a big part of Aria and who she really needs as a fatherly figure. He helped her with the piano and helped get her dream to go to Julliard fulfilled. I thought he was great and sweet with Aria and gave her really good advice. The ending was just so sweet and gave me tears of happiness it was the perfect ending and exactly what Aria and Thomas needed. This was an amazing book and even though I didn't win any giveaways for it, I was happy to get it from the library. Amazing book and I look forward to rereading it again at some point. Enjoy!!!!
June 27, 2016
Ever since her mother’s death, Aria’s father has hated Aria’s music. He starts drinking and becomes volatile and abusive. One day, after escaping her father’s anger by hiding in the neighbor’s tree house, Aria wakes to find a boy invading her sanctuary. Thomas is the neighbor’s hot grandson and has moved in next door to clean up the place to sell. But trespassing and a bed-head is not the greatest first impression.
Porcelain Keys by Sarah Beard is the classic story of a senior in high school falling for the new boy who moved in next door. In some ways, it was a story that has been told a million times. You’ve seen it on TV and read it in a dozen books about high school, with the popular girl trying to steal the boy away and that girl’s ex-boyfriend using the main character to make his Ex jealous. But this book had a lot more going on that just that. It reached deeper levels, touching on abuse, grief, music, and the lasting effects of love. For those reasons, I enjoyed this book as more of an original.
Another reason why I like this story is because it does not stop at the end of high school. The characters get through a couple years in college, family changes, deaths, heartbreak, second loves, and much more. Yet, they find their way back to each other through the mess. Forgiveness and grief are major themes in this story, and they were addressed well, considering how hard such topics are. Each of the characters reacted to their grief in a different ways and had to come to terms with it in their own ways. They then had to learn how to forgive each other for the hurt they inflicted while in pain themselves. And the healing power of music had a part to play. There were a lot of hard topics in this book, and I enjoyed it all the more for it.
I enjoyed Porcelain Keys. I wish it was more original in some ways but appreciate the minor differences and hard topics addressed. I recommend it to those who enjoy a good, clean YA/NA romance.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Porcelain Keys by Sarah Beard is the classic story of a senior in high school falling for the new boy who moved in next door. In some ways, it was a story that has been told a million times. You’ve seen it on TV and read it in a dozen books about high school, with the popular girl trying to steal the boy away and that girl’s ex-boyfriend using the main character to make his Ex jealous. But this book had a lot more going on that just that. It reached deeper levels, touching on abuse, grief, music, and the lasting effects of love. For those reasons, I enjoyed this book as more of an original.
Another reason why I like this story is because it does not stop at the end of high school. The characters get through a couple years in college, family changes, deaths, heartbreak, second loves, and much more. Yet, they find their way back to each other through the mess. Forgiveness and grief are major themes in this story, and they were addressed well, considering how hard such topics are. Each of the characters reacted to their grief in a different ways and had to come to terms with it in their own ways. They then had to learn how to forgive each other for the hurt they inflicted while in pain themselves. And the healing power of music had a part to play. There were a lot of hard topics in this book, and I enjoyed it all the more for it.
I enjoyed Porcelain Keys. I wish it was more original in some ways but appreciate the minor differences and hard topics addressed. I recommend it to those who enjoy a good, clean YA/NA romance.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2014
The book starts with 17-year-old Aria running away from her abusive father. She runs to her "safe haven" - aka the tree house on Mr. Euler's property. And this is where she meets Mr. Euler's grandson, Thomas Ashby, for the first time. Thomas and Aria are immediately drawn to each other (even though their first few meetings are completely humiliating to Aria - he seemed to have an uncanny way of seeing her at her worst). They both have secrets, as does Aria's father (which is why he turned to alcohol after her mother's death). The secrets are revealed in perfect time; this book was really difficult for me to put down because I felt so invested in these characters and what made them tick, and the author did such a beautiful job in telling this story!
I loved Nathaniel, her mother's Julliard friend, who teaches Aria piano and helps her get to Julliard -- and quickly becomes the father she wished she had. I loved Vivian, the 30-something-year-old who is hot after her father and isn't afraid to let everyone know it (I laughed so hard when she brought Aria and a homemade pie to Thomas' house) -- she's a breath of fresh air in a book with so many secrets because she doesn't have any! I love Devin, Aria's Julliard friend who loves her even when she's broken and helps her find her smile again.
But Thomas and Aria are definitely my favorite characters! This is a story of first love and second chances, abuse and recovery, healing, redemption, and forgiveness. It's been a long time since I added a book to my favorites shelf, but this one is going there!
(My one grievance: I am an Epilogue addict, and this book did not have one... and I really wanted one!)
Content: Clean
I loved Nathaniel, her mother's Julliard friend, who teaches Aria piano and helps her get to Julliard -- and quickly becomes the father she wished she had. I loved Vivian, the 30-something-year-old who is hot after her father and isn't afraid to let everyone know it (I laughed so hard when she brought Aria and a homemade pie to Thomas' house) -- she's a breath of fresh air in a book with so many secrets because she doesn't have any! I love Devin, Aria's Julliard friend who loves her even when she's broken and helps her find her smile again.
But Thomas and Aria are definitely my favorite characters! This is a story of first love and second chances, abuse and recovery, healing, redemption, and forgiveness. It's been a long time since I added a book to my favorites shelf, but this one is going there!
(My one grievance: I am an Epilogue addict, and this book did not have one... and I really wanted one!)
Content: Clean
August 10, 2014
I love when I find a book that I have a hard time putting down- this was definitely the case with Porcelain Keys, right from the dramatic/intense opening, all the way through to the end.
Aria's life is not easy, from losing her mother to an abusive father and having to hide her true passion and love of playing the piano as it only enrages her father more. Her life is full of secrets that she wants to close off and hide from everyone but something about her new neighbor Thomas helps her begin to open up.
While the underlying part of this story is the classic boy meets girl story; there is so much more depth, tragedy and life added to the story that it draws you in and keeps you interested. I loved the musicality aspect of the story which was filled with beautiful imagery. The characters are very likable and believable and I definitely wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next; as there are many twists and turns thrown into the book. There is also a theme of healing and forgiveness in the book that adds to it's power.
This is a clean book, while the subject matter is PG-13 plus it is free of language, vulgarity and sexual imagery.
It is definitely one I would highly recommend to anyone that loves a good romance/drama story.
I received and ACR copy of this book to review.
Aria's life is not easy, from losing her mother to an abusive father and having to hide her true passion and love of playing the piano as it only enrages her father more. Her life is full of secrets that she wants to close off and hide from everyone but something about her new neighbor Thomas helps her begin to open up.
While the underlying part of this story is the classic boy meets girl story; there is so much more depth, tragedy and life added to the story that it draws you in and keeps you interested. I loved the musicality aspect of the story which was filled with beautiful imagery. The characters are very likable and believable and I definitely wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next; as there are many twists and turns thrown into the book. There is also a theme of healing and forgiveness in the book that adds to it's power.
This is a clean book, while the subject matter is PG-13 plus it is free of language, vulgarity and sexual imagery.
It is definitely one I would highly recommend to anyone that loves a good romance/drama story.
I received and ACR copy of this book to review.
February 24, 2014
My review:
I want to be honest, tat when I decided to go for Porcelain Keys, I did not know what to expect. Sarah Beard is a new author for me, but the book blurb sounded promising. Promising is an understatement. I loved Porcelain Keys!
It was a refreshing book about friendship, loss, tragedy, hope, letting go and never giving up on your dreams. It was well written and an inspiring page turner.
Aria lost her mother and her father does everything to erase the memory of Aria's mom. Aria very passionate about music and she is secretly exercising her passion and when her father has one of his aggressive fits, she escapes to the tree-house where she meets Thomas. Thomas is her rock who encourages her and keeps Aria sane. Their relationship develops and then another tragedy happens. Aria turns her heartbreak into a music and pursues her dream to become a student at Julliard.
Porcelain Keys is a wonderful book! It gives you a lot of thought and emotions from anger and heartbreak to love and hope. It also keeps some surprising secrets which will reveal during the reading. The characters are captivating and well developed.
Loved it!
I want to be honest, tat when I decided to go for Porcelain Keys, I did not know what to expect. Sarah Beard is a new author for me, but the book blurb sounded promising. Promising is an understatement. I loved Porcelain Keys!
It was a refreshing book about friendship, loss, tragedy, hope, letting go and never giving up on your dreams. It was well written and an inspiring page turner.
Aria lost her mother and her father does everything to erase the memory of Aria's mom. Aria very passionate about music and she is secretly exercising her passion and when her father has one of his aggressive fits, she escapes to the tree-house where she meets Thomas. Thomas is her rock who encourages her and keeps Aria sane. Their relationship develops and then another tragedy happens. Aria turns her heartbreak into a music and pursues her dream to become a student at Julliard.
Porcelain Keys is a wonderful book! It gives you a lot of thought and emotions from anger and heartbreak to love and hope. It also keeps some surprising secrets which will reveal during the reading. The characters are captivating and well developed.
Loved it!
April 3, 2014
So I really liked this book, There were a few things that stood out to me that I do have to say first: The middle dragged a bit for me, Second: The things that Thomas says are unrealistic for what a guy that age would say, Devin was way more true to life, and Three: I was little confused about the abuse and the father figure in this book, the author should have just made his character distant, not abusive, it just was a distraction. NOW that said, I loved the story between Thomas and Aria and the one between her and Devin. The emotions felt by kids that age rang true and I related a lot to Aria and Thomas's relationship. This book actually has a depth I really did not expect, I have not read a book like this in a long time and It was deep and I read it intently.
However, when she comes home and sees Thomas standing in her home after being gone 2 years, her reaction was not believable, she would have cried, lashed out, something, not played it cool for a few days, and have had dinner at the same table as him that night. I really liked the ending, I cried in the last paragraph. Its a great book and worth the read and I look forward to more from this poetic writer.
However, when she comes home and sees Thomas standing in her home after being gone 2 years, her reaction was not believable, she would have cried, lashed out, something, not played it cool for a few days, and have had dinner at the same table as him that night. I really liked the ending, I cried in the last paragraph. Its a great book and worth the read and I look forward to more from this poetic writer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2014
I wish I could give this book different stars for different parts of the book. The beginning would get 3 stars, the middle would get 2 stars, and the ending would get 4 stars. As it is, I gave it 4 because I was not only satisfied with the ending but I was actually quite moved by it. The things I like: boy characters with two names. Thomas Ashby is a great name. Loved his character. I liked the theme’s she explored, namely fear, loss, and forgiveness. These theme’s added quite a bit to the love story and made the story feel unique. The things I didn’t like: The boring middle that I skimmed. Aria’s abuse didn’t add to the story at all, in fact, if anything it took away from it and was not resolved in a satisfying manner. The marriage of her Dad and Vivian, while a productive device to move the story, was unrealistic and was tied up so quickly with a nice red bow that I resented it.
Although it was unquestionably slow at times I definitely found it to be a worthwhile read.
Although it was unquestionably slow at times I definitely found it to be a worthwhile read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2014
Disclaimer: I am part of Sarah's writing group and think she is awesome ;-)
I read parts of this over several months as Sarah would bring in new stuff for our writer's group. Because I would miss a month or two or whatever, my memories of the story were a little disjointed.
So, I was amazed when I sat down to read the finished product.
This was a great YA romance story that kept me reading through the night. I laughed and cried and feared right along with the characters. It felt very real. I think this is because Sarah does not shy away from the complex feelings that come to the characters. There are no easy answers here about heartbreak or loss. But there are characters who have souls as rich and deep as can be imagined. And there is love.
This is the story of a teenage girl who has to deal with a drunken, abusive father and who has to come to terms with her growing interest in the new boy in town, all while exploring her yearnings for music.
I highly recommend this book!
I read parts of this over several months as Sarah would bring in new stuff for our writer's group. Because I would miss a month or two or whatever, my memories of the story were a little disjointed.
So, I was amazed when I sat down to read the finished product.
This was a great YA romance story that kept me reading through the night. I laughed and cried and feared right along with the characters. It felt very real. I think this is because Sarah does not shy away from the complex feelings that come to the characters. There are no easy answers here about heartbreak or loss. But there are characters who have souls as rich and deep as can be imagined. And there is love.
This is the story of a teenage girl who has to deal with a drunken, abusive father and who has to come to terms with her growing interest in the new boy in town, all while exploring her yearnings for music.
I highly recommend this book!
July 25, 2016
4 stars
How to explain how I felt about this book... I might need to quote an other book to explain it :
“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” (It's from The Fault in our stars, if you haven't read it yet, DO read it too.)
That is exactly how I felt... about this book. The story felt kind of slow and distant at first, and then as Iread listened to the audiobook, I realized that I really loved the depth of this story and the layers in all its characters. Without thinking, I found myself captivated by Aria, Thomas, their relationship, but also by all supporting characters.
The story was really well-built, revealing itself slowly, subtly.
My feelings towards the book might have been emphasized by the narration by Heather Masters. Her voice was soothing, and calm, when the story was full of emotions. And the combination of both was really delighting.
How to explain how I felt about this book... I might need to quote an other book to explain it :
“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” (It's from The Fault in our stars, if you haven't read it yet, DO read it too.)
That is exactly how I felt... about this book. The story felt kind of slow and distant at first, and then as I
The story was really well-built, revealing itself slowly, subtly.
My feelings towards the book might have been emphasized by the narration by Heather Masters. Her voice was soothing, and calm, when the story was full of emotions. And the combination of both was really delighting.
September 30, 2013
Full of twists and heartrending moments, this emotionally gripping debut novel takes readers on a whirlwind journey from broken to healing as Beard’s beautifully crafted characters risk everything in order to break free from their troubled pasts in order to find a true love that will last forever. I really, really enjoyed this novel and even cried a little at the end. Beard's writing is strong, packing a punch straight to the heart. I loved her characters, Aria and Thomas. But I Vivian was my favorite. She's Southern, so that's a no-brainer. And though I felt so bad for Devin and Jed, I think they will eventually both land on his feet.
Great debut novel! Read this one. Seriously =D
Great debut novel! Read this one. Seriously =D
March 26, 2014
Maybe 3 1/2 to 4. This is a nice love story. Very clean and the heroine is very admirable. It is a YA fiction and I would love for my daughters to read this book (as opposed to the sexed up YA fiction everywhere right now). There are just a couple kisses in this book. Aria works hard to achieve her dreams even when the odds are stacked against her. I love that she has to work so hard to achieve-- great lesson. The love story part is sweet and a little cheesy-- especially in the beginning. And some of the circumstances are a little too coincidental for me, but overall good story. Any hopeless romantics out there will love this.
November 18, 2013
An amazing composition of heartbreak, hope, and healing! The story is unravelled, in perfect rhythm and timing! It grips your emotions, and takes you along for the ride. Along with her sense of musicality, our author uses amazing imagery. You feel like you are watching the characters' journey unfold, on film, with her detailed descriptions.
Magnifique!
Magnifique!
May 15, 2014
Amazing, beautiful book. The author takes you on an emotional journey of a few years using music and other beautiful imagery. I loved the characters and the story and read this book in 24 hours, on vacation. Yes, it was that good. I even cried. I will definitely be reading this book again.
I received this ARC as a prize, and am so glad I did.
I received this ARC as a prize, and am so glad I did.
April 23, 2015
4.5 stars
I started this book on a flight from Dallas to Denver and finished it on a layover. I DID NOT want to put it down. Lots of raw emotions, grief, love, rejection... I really liked the main characters, Aria & Thomas, and just wanted to comfort them. They've both gone thru so much. Really, really great book.
I started this book on a flight from Dallas to Denver and finished it on a layover. I DID NOT want to put it down. Lots of raw emotions, grief, love, rejection... I really liked the main characters, Aria & Thomas, and just wanted to comfort them. They've both gone thru so much. Really, really great book.
January 1, 2022
This is a touching story of a young couple who find each other in the midst of big family events. Her story is a little predictable and easy to follow, His had a little more surprise factor and kept me guessing. Nice little book.
Re-read 2021
I'm glad I came back to this one. I just wanted something light and sweet.
Re-read 2021
I'm glad I came back to this one. I just wanted something light and sweet.
December 19, 2013
I really liked this book. I thought it was going to be a typical teenage love book, but it turned out to have a lot more heartfelt emotion. Loved how the main character grows and how the author incorporates the theme of music throughout. Lovely.
October 31, 2013
A lyrical love story that will leave your heart singing. Porcelain Keys is a masterpiece with emotional depth, young love, and family angst. Beard takes us on a journey of self-discovery, second chances, and ultimately, sweet resolution.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews