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Canto Contigo
When a Mariachi star transfers schools, he expects to be handed his new group's lead vocalist spot—what he gets instead is a tenacious current lead with a very familiar, very kissable face.
In a twenty-four-hour span, Rafael Alvarez led North Amistad High School’s Mariachi Alma de la Frontera to their eleventh consecutive first-place win in the Mariachi Extravaganza de Nacional; and met, made out with, and almost hooked up with one of the cutest guys he’s ever met.
Now eight months later, Rafie’s ready for one final win. What he didn’t plan for is his family moving to San Antonio before his senior year, forcing him to leave behind his group while dealing with the loss of the most important person in his life—his beloved abuelo. Another hitch in his plan: The Selena Quintanilla-Perez Academy’s Mariachi Todos Colores already has a lead vocalist, Rey Chavez—the boy Rafie made out with—who now stands between him winning and being the great Mariachi Rafie's abuelo always believed him to be. Despite their newfound rivalry for center stage, Rafie can’t squash his feelings for Rey. Now he must decide between the people he’s known his entire life or the one just starting to get to know the real him.
Canto Contigo is a love letter to Mexican culture, family and legacy, the people who shape us, and allowing ourselves to forge our own path. At its heart, this is one of the most glorious rivals-to-lovers romance about finding the one who challenges you in the most extraordinary ways.
In a twenty-four-hour span, Rafael Alvarez led North Amistad High School’s Mariachi Alma de la Frontera to their eleventh consecutive first-place win in the Mariachi Extravaganza de Nacional; and met, made out with, and almost hooked up with one of the cutest guys he’s ever met.
Now eight months later, Rafie’s ready for one final win. What he didn’t plan for is his family moving to San Antonio before his senior year, forcing him to leave behind his group while dealing with the loss of the most important person in his life—his beloved abuelo. Another hitch in his plan: The Selena Quintanilla-Perez Academy’s Mariachi Todos Colores already has a lead vocalist, Rey Chavez—the boy Rafie made out with—who now stands between him winning and being the great Mariachi Rafie's abuelo always believed him to be. Despite their newfound rivalry for center stage, Rafie can’t squash his feelings for Rey. Now he must decide between the people he’s known his entire life or the one just starting to get to know the real him.
Canto Contigo is a love letter to Mexican culture, family and legacy, the people who shape us, and allowing ourselves to forge our own path. At its heart, this is one of the most glorious rivals-to-lovers romance about finding the one who challenges you in the most extraordinary ways.
8 pages, Audiobook
First published April 9, 2024
105 people are currently reading
10204 people want to read
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September 25, 2023
Canto Contigo is the most comforting of Jonny Garza Villa’s books. There’s always hurt in their stories—this one is about grief and loss and the expectations we put on ourselves—but Canto Contigo is also incredibly warm and uplifting.
From the moment I started reading this novel, it reminded me of Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min (pick it up if you haven’t yet. It’s one of the best YA books ever). Those two books have so much in common. Teens with a shared past who meet each other again after one of them moves. (Friends to) rivals to lovers. Prickly and proud boys. BIPOC MC’s and so much love for their culture. A trans MC/LI. A beautiful and intimate cover. And both are love songs to music, in this case, Mariachi (Mexican music).
Rey is the cinnamon roll in this story. And as Jonny states, a Cancer sun who shows himself to be much more tenacious than anticipated. Rafie thinks he’s the best and wants to fulfill his dreams at any cost. As Jonny states, a Leo sun with a bit of a God complex. It might make Rafie unlikable, but his grief is already palpable in the first chapter and therefore I understood so well why he was so (overly) passionate and needed to be the best. I felt his want to make his Abuelo proud in every line.
Canto Contigo feels bright, even when the sun dimmed. Even when grief and darker thoughts took over. Even when Rafie made disputable decisions. The rivals-to-lovers trope is one of my favorite and laughs bubbled up from my belly when those guys hated each other but secretly had fallen for the other so hard already. The love those boys had for their music was simply beautiful, and I adored how they started opening up to each other more and more. When Rafie’s grief started to pour out, the story felt a bit sadder but still so heartwarming and it meant time for healing too. And the last chapters made me smile again so hard!!
Oh, and that title? I didn’t know what it meant before, but now I know it’s so beautiful!
I’ve said it before, Jonny Garza Villa is one of my auto-read authors, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us next!
I received an ARC from Wednesday Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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From the moment I started reading this novel, it reminded me of Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min (pick it up if you haven’t yet. It’s one of the best YA books ever). Those two books have so much in common. Teens with a shared past who meet each other again after one of them moves. (Friends to) rivals to lovers. Prickly and proud boys. BIPOC MC’s and so much love for their culture. A trans MC/LI. A beautiful and intimate cover. And both are love songs to music, in this case, Mariachi (Mexican music).
Rey is the cinnamon roll in this story. And as Jonny states, a Cancer sun who shows himself to be much more tenacious than anticipated. Rafie thinks he’s the best and wants to fulfill his dreams at any cost. As Jonny states, a Leo sun with a bit of a God complex. It might make Rafie unlikable, but his grief is already palpable in the first chapter and therefore I understood so well why he was so (overly) passionate and needed to be the best. I felt his want to make his Abuelo proud in every line.
Canto Contigo feels bright, even when the sun dimmed. Even when grief and darker thoughts took over. Even when Rafie made disputable decisions. The rivals-to-lovers trope is one of my favorite and laughs bubbled up from my belly when those guys hated each other but secretly had fallen for the other so hard already. The love those boys had for their music was simply beautiful, and I adored how they started opening up to each other more and more. When Rafie’s grief started to pour out, the story felt a bit sadder but still so heartwarming and it meant time for healing too. And the last chapters made me smile again so hard!!
Oh, and that title? I didn’t know what it meant before, but now I know it’s so beautiful!
I’ve said it before, Jonny Garza Villa is one of my auto-read authors, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us next!
I received an ARC from Wednesday Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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June 21, 2024
3.5 Stars
I warred with myself, for several days, on how to rate this story. It was a tough one for me, because for all the things I loved/respected about it, there was something (one big thing) majorly impacting my enjoyment that I couldn't overlook in my reflections.
Let’s begin with all the things I liked:
☆ The cover and title. SO LOVELY and SO APT. I’m pretty sure I bought this book for that cover alone; I had to have it.
☆ The writing. Villa’s dexterity as a storyteller and their ability to create such visceral emotional resonance remains impressive on all counts. This is only my second time reading this author’s work, but their name comes prominently to mind whenever I get asked for quality YA LGBT recommendations.
☆ The representation. Villa always gives open and authentic voice to minority characters who get to shine on page. The story features a largely BIPOC ensemble of characters and a trans love interest.
☆ The characters. Complex, raw and messy as hell (I’m looking at you, Rafie), these aren’t your average YA protagonists or secondary characters. They come alive on page and make you feel all the feels, good and bad.
☆ The exploration of familial loss. MC Rafie spends the entire story grappling with his grief over the recent loss of his grandfather. It’s a prominent theme and it’s profoundly emotional in its telling, as Rafie’s whole experience and identity as a person/performer is wrapped up in his connection to this man he loved so much. Anyone who has lost a loved one (of this importance) will be deeply affected by the way Villa so perfectly explores Rafie’s grief and healing.
☆ The romantic relationship. Between two Latinx teenagers, who go from random hookup, to school rivals, to lovers and more. Whether the boys were fighting or ... the other thing… the chemistry was undeniable and combustible from the first across-the-room eye-lock to the sweet and hopeful last page.
☆ The music. I knew not a bean about Mariachi before reading, but as a high school competitive (dance) performer once myself (state champs, thank you very much), I found the exploration of the musical and cultural passions of these characters, and their drive to be the best at what they love, both compelling and relatable.
The list of things I didn’t like so much is pretty small in comparison to the above—one item, in fact, and it was a very personal reaction-type thing, that most readers won’t be (quite as) affected by (and should therefore take with a grain of salt):
☆ An UNLIKEABLE protagonist. On one hand, I respect the hell out of Villa for giving us a messy-af MC like Rafie, who clearly has a god complex and doesn’t keep quiet about his opinions and belief in his superiority to those around him (at least in relation to Mariachi). He is a straight-up dick for the majority of the story, and I found myself getting more and more worked up as his arrogance kept digging his own grave (in terms of his potential relationship with Rey, his probable success within his new Mariachi group, if only he’d tried that little thing called TEAMWORK, and his (in)ability to make new friends—he was his own worst enemy and there was only so much empathy I could conjure up for him as it continued to pile on). Yes, he tried my patience too many times to count, but I did FEEL for him too—especially in relation to his loss and inability to process his grief in less self-destructive, other-person-harming ways. I had to keep reminding myself that he was a teenager and had a lot to learn in life. But then again, as a person twice his age, I also kept remembering how the people I found egotistical, selfish, and self-righteous at seventeen, ARE STILL those same people at thirty-nine, so I didn’t hold out too much hope in the long run for Rafie, particularly finding his change of heart/character growth, at the very end, to ring slightly untrue, in comparison to the sheer size of his ego/attitude for more than 80% of the story.
So, yeah, I actively disliked the guy for most of the book, and that was a damn shame when considering all the things I enjoyed in the story.
Ultimately, the multiple pros outweigh the singular con, but, to me—a person who predominantly reads for the characters in any story she picks up (over the plot and all those other things)—well, landing on a rating and voicing my reactions caused a bit of a tug-of-war with my mind and heart, having to put my critical thinking skills to the test to decide how I truly felt about this story as a whole. I guess, in a brief summary, I’d say: Canto Contigo is an impressively written and emotionally engaging YA story, with great cultural representation and character diversity, but whose protagonist I simply didn’t love.
******************************
Audio Edition:
SENSATIONAL vocal performance by Alejandro Antonio Ruiz. Absolutely flawless delivery. Could not recommend more highly.
I warred with myself, for several days, on how to rate this story. It was a tough one for me, because for all the things I loved/respected about it, there was something (one big thing) majorly impacting my enjoyment that I couldn't overlook in my reflections.
Let’s begin with all the things I liked:
☆ The cover and title. SO LOVELY and SO APT. I’m pretty sure I bought this book for that cover alone; I had to have it.
☆ The writing. Villa’s dexterity as a storyteller and their ability to create such visceral emotional resonance remains impressive on all counts. This is only my second time reading this author’s work, but their name comes prominently to mind whenever I get asked for quality YA LGBT recommendations.
☆ The representation. Villa always gives open and authentic voice to minority characters who get to shine on page. The story features a largely BIPOC ensemble of characters and a trans love interest.
☆ The characters. Complex, raw and messy as hell (I’m looking at you, Rafie), these aren’t your average YA protagonists or secondary characters. They come alive on page and make you feel all the feels, good and bad.
☆ The exploration of familial loss. MC Rafie spends the entire story grappling with his grief over the recent loss of his grandfather. It’s a prominent theme and it’s profoundly emotional in its telling, as Rafie’s whole experience and identity as a person/performer is wrapped up in his connection to this man he loved so much. Anyone who has lost a loved one (of this importance) will be deeply affected by the way Villa so perfectly explores Rafie’s grief and healing.
☆ The romantic relationship. Between two Latinx teenagers, who go from random hookup, to school rivals, to lovers and more. Whether the boys were fighting or ... the other thing… the chemistry was undeniable and combustible from the first across-the-room eye-lock to the sweet and hopeful last page.
☆ The music. I knew not a bean about Mariachi before reading, but as a high school competitive (dance) performer once myself (state champs, thank you very much), I found the exploration of the musical and cultural passions of these characters, and their drive to be the best at what they love, both compelling and relatable.
The list of things I didn’t like so much is pretty small in comparison to the above—one item, in fact, and it was a very personal reaction-type thing, that most readers won’t be (quite as) affected by (and should therefore take with a grain of salt):
☆ An UNLIKEABLE protagonist. On one hand, I respect the hell out of Villa for giving us a messy-af MC like Rafie, who clearly has a god complex and doesn’t keep quiet about his opinions and belief in his superiority to those around him (at least in relation to Mariachi). He is a straight-up dick for the majority of the story, and I found myself getting more and more worked up as his arrogance kept digging his own grave (in terms of his potential relationship with Rey, his probable success within his new Mariachi group, if only he’d tried that little thing called TEAMWORK, and his (in)ability to make new friends—he was his own worst enemy and there was only so much empathy I could conjure up for him as it continued to pile on). Yes, he tried my patience too many times to count, but I did FEEL for him too—especially in relation to his loss and inability to process his grief in less self-destructive, other-person-harming ways. I had to keep reminding myself that he was a teenager and had a lot to learn in life. But then again, as a person twice his age, I also kept remembering how the people I found egotistical, selfish, and self-righteous at seventeen, ARE STILL those same people at thirty-nine, so I didn’t hold out too much hope in the long run for Rafie, particularly finding his change of heart/character growth, at the very end, to ring slightly untrue, in comparison to the sheer size of his ego/attitude for more than 80% of the story.
So, yeah, I actively disliked the guy for most of the book, and that was a damn shame when considering all the things I enjoyed in the story.
Ultimately, the multiple pros outweigh the singular con, but, to me—a person who predominantly reads for the characters in any story she picks up (over the plot and all those other things)—well, landing on a rating and voicing my reactions caused a bit of a tug-of-war with my mind and heart, having to put my critical thinking skills to the test to decide how I truly felt about this story as a whole. I guess, in a brief summary, I’d say: Canto Contigo is an impressively written and emotionally engaging YA story, with great cultural representation and character diversity, but whose protagonist I simply didn’t love.
******************************
Audio Edition:
SENSATIONAL vocal performance by Alejandro Antonio Ruiz. Absolutely flawless delivery. Could not recommend more highly.
Want to read
September 17, 2023E-ARC generously provided by Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!
Um, either I got auto-approved or this is read now because I just hit request and I got this book? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
The cover for this just got revealed on Twitter and it’s gorgeous and at this point, I will read anything Jonny Garza Villa writes!!
Um, either I got auto-approved or this is read now because I just hit request and I got this book? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
The cover for this just got revealed on Twitter and it’s gorgeous and at this point, I will read anything Jonny Garza Villa writes!!
April 6, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own
Last year, I had the chance to read "Ander and Santi Were Here" by Jonny Garza Villa, and I was excited to read another one of their YA novels. The story revolves around a romance where the main characters were almost lovers, but now they are rivals, and then they become lovers again.
When a Mariachi star transfers schools, he expects to be handed his new group's lead vocalist spot—what he gets instead is a tenacious current lead with a very familiar, very kissable face.
I think not everyone will love the main protagonist, Rafael Alvarez, but I admit that I have a soft spot for him. Rafie is not perfect he's a bit of an asshole and it's astounding that more characters didn't want to knock him over the head. There were some touching moments as Rafael grieved for his grandfather who was an influential figure in his life. I loved the scenes between Rafael and his father, as well as a particular scene with his grandmother later in the novel. I loved that the novel was steeped in Mexican culture and that the characters speak Spanish throughout, although I cannot speak a word of it myself.
Although there were some slow parts, I liked the antics of the characters, the positive discussions on sexuality between teens and parents, and following a high school Mariachi band during their competitions.
Expected Publication Date 09/04/24
Goodreads Review 06/04/24
Last year, I had the chance to read "Ander and Santi Were Here" by Jonny Garza Villa, and I was excited to read another one of their YA novels. The story revolves around a romance where the main characters were almost lovers, but now they are rivals, and then they become lovers again.
When a Mariachi star transfers schools, he expects to be handed his new group's lead vocalist spot—what he gets instead is a tenacious current lead with a very familiar, very kissable face.
I think not everyone will love the main protagonist, Rafael Alvarez, but I admit that I have a soft spot for him. Rafie is not perfect he's a bit of an asshole and it's astounding that more characters didn't want to knock him over the head. There were some touching moments as Rafael grieved for his grandfather who was an influential figure in his life. I loved the scenes between Rafael and his father, as well as a particular scene with his grandmother later in the novel. I loved that the novel was steeped in Mexican culture and that the characters speak Spanish throughout, although I cannot speak a word of it myself.
Although there were some slow parts, I liked the antics of the characters, the positive discussions on sexuality between teens and parents, and following a high school Mariachi band during their competitions.
Expected Publication Date 09/04/24
Goodreads Review 06/04/24
January 27, 2024
Jonny Garza Villa has done it again. This was marvellous.
A beautiful coming-of-age story that's part lovers-to-rivals-to-lovers romance and part love letter to Mariachi and the many ways in which the people we love shape us.
It's a story of the need to make your family proud and to live up to the expectations you place upon yourself. It's a story of queerness, first love, community and family. It's a story of both grief and joy in their rawest forms. It's a story about two boys falling in love to the soundtrack of Mariachi and it's simply gorgeous.
With a cast of wonderful characters and a story that's heart-wrenching, adorable, funny and filled with music, passion, Jonny Garza Villa has once again highlighted why they are one of my top auto-buy and auto-recommend authors.
TW: transphobia, homophobia, racism.
A beautiful coming-of-age story that's part lovers-to-rivals-to-lovers romance and part love letter to Mariachi and the many ways in which the people we love shape us.
It's a story of the need to make your family proud and to live up to the expectations you place upon yourself. It's a story of queerness, first love, community and family. It's a story of both grief and joy in their rawest forms. It's a story about two boys falling in love to the soundtrack of Mariachi and it's simply gorgeous.
With a cast of wonderful characters and a story that's heart-wrenching, adorable, funny and filled with music, passion, Jonny Garza Villa has once again highlighted why they are one of my top auto-buy and auto-recommend authors.
TW: transphobia, homophobia, racism.
December 5, 2024
only book i read in 2024 to be added to the faves shelf
October 18, 2024
After reading this book, the title truly hits. This is probably the most lighthearted of Jonny Garza Villa's books, even though it does have its serious themes, like grief. I loved Rafie and Rey together from their first meeting, and I loved seeing their rivalry turn into romance. In both their rivalry and their romance, they had so much chemistry, and it made me feel so soft reading about them.
May 1, 2024
Canto Contigo is a sweet, sad, and uplifting book centered around grief, growing up, and being true to yourself. I loved the Mexican culture and Mariachi music and the love songs were incredibly romantic.
Rafie can be unlikeable at times, hurting others for his own gain and not always able to see things from other's points of view. His struggle with losing his grandpa was compelling though and he did grow on me a bit. Rey is an adorable human and I just wanted him to be happy.
I thought this had nice pacing and the supporting cast was fantastic. Definitely a hit for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.
Rafie can be unlikeable at times, hurting others for his own gain and not always able to see things from other's points of view. His struggle with losing his grandpa was compelling though and he did grow on me a bit. Rey is an adorable human and I just wanted him to be happy.
I thought this had nice pacing and the supporting cast was fantastic. Definitely a hit for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.
June 21, 2025
3.5 stars.
There was a lot I loved about Canto Contigo, though there were a few parts that didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Let’s start with the good:
• The representation! This book featured such a wide range of queer rep across the spectrum. I loved how it celebrated queer joy while also acknowledging the struggles and prejudices that still exist.
• The culture! As always, Jonny Garza Villa beautifully weaves Mexican American culture and traditions throughout the story. This one had a strong focus on Mariachi, which was so much fun! I also appreciated the use of Spanish throughout (even if I got a little lost at times 😅)
• The handling of grief. Rafi’s grief felt raw and honest, and I found it incredibly easy to relate to.
• The music! I was not expecting the audiobook to kick off with Mariachi music, but it did and it was such a delightful surprise!
• Ray. How is he so emotionally intelligent and grounded at 17?! I’d like a tutorial, please.
• The narration. It was spot-on and really brought the story to life.
What didn’t work as well for me:
• Rafi. Honestly, he came off as a bit of a brat at the start, and I almost DNFed. That said, it was a super realistic portrayal of a teen working through deep grief, and he showed a lot of growth by the end. I’m glad I stuck with it.
That’s really it! I mostly loved this book—Rafi just tested my patience a little at times 😂
There was a lot I loved about Canto Contigo, though there were a few parts that didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Let’s start with the good:
• The representation! This book featured such a wide range of queer rep across the spectrum. I loved how it celebrated queer joy while also acknowledging the struggles and prejudices that still exist.
• The culture! As always, Jonny Garza Villa beautifully weaves Mexican American culture and traditions throughout the story. This one had a strong focus on Mariachi, which was so much fun! I also appreciated the use of Spanish throughout (even if I got a little lost at times 😅)
• The handling of grief. Rafi’s grief felt raw and honest, and I found it incredibly easy to relate to.
• The music! I was not expecting the audiobook to kick off with Mariachi music, but it did and it was such a delightful surprise!
• Ray. How is he so emotionally intelligent and grounded at 17?! I’d like a tutorial, please.
• The narration. It was spot-on and really brought the story to life.
What didn’t work as well for me:
• Rafi. Honestly, he came off as a bit of a brat at the start, and I almost DNFed. That said, it was a super realistic portrayal of a teen working through deep grief, and he showed a lot of growth by the end. I’m glad I stuck with it.
That’s really it! I mostly loved this book—Rafi just tested my patience a little at times 😂
October 10, 2023
I just love Jonny Garza Villa. As was the case in Ander & Santi Were Here, their character work in Canto Contigo is excellent -- the main and side characters are drawn with care, full of complexity, rich, flawed, and beautiful. Garza Villa once again portrays the vibrancy of family relationships, friendships, and romances here, too, while also bringing our notice to societal issues that need our attention and stories that deserve to be heard. Their storytelling is really quite remarkable.
In Canto Contigo, Rafie is a Mariachi musician who knows he's the best at what he does. He's led his high school Mariachi group to three consecutive first-place wins at nationals as their lead vocalist, and is eager to do so again during his senior year. But right before the school year starts, his family abruptly moves to a new city. Rafie, who is already very much not into this unexpected transition and is also grieving the recent death of his abuelo, is further outraged to be named backup vocalist instead of the lead for his new school's Mariachi group. To make matters worse, the person who currently holds that coveted role is a cutie who Rafie hooked up with some months ago and has been daydreaming about ever since. What we have here is a fun, queer take on the rivals to lovers trope, a tender exploration of grief, and a meandering journey toward self-love and the joy that accompanies it.
I'm still coming down from finishing this book, and am sure I'll have a lot more thoughts and feelings in the coming weeks. I loved it, but not quite as much as Ander & Santi, and I think it could have used another editing pass through (beyond just some typos which will hopefully be cleaned up prior to final publication). I also already know a few of its impressive elements will be reverberating through my consciousness for a while: Jonny Garza Villa's gentle and honest handling of being a teenager, their continued commitment to celebrating queer joy and love, and a deft inclusion of music throughout.
Sometimes when I read YA, I struggle with how teenager-y the main characters are, simply, I think, because I'm old and not a teenager anymore. I cannot emphasize enough how much I don't miss being a teenager and all the emotional swings and turmoil that accompanied that time of my life, and when a writer can perfectly depict the pain of teenagedom I just... it can be too much. Which is all to say, the teenager-ness wasn't too much for me in Canto Contigo. Garza Villa perfectly captures what it is to be a teenager -- the angst, self-absorption, emotional upheaval, hormonal swings -- but does so in a way that made me feel for Rafie. Yeah, I wanted to shake him a few times and did my fair share of eye rolling, too, but mostly I just wanted to give him a hug and tell him things would be okay.
I also struggle with the fact that a lot of books that depict queerness often focus on the challenges society presents to queer people. While Canto Contigo doesn't shy away from these very real problems and injustices (please heed its content warnings, which include homophobic and transphobic comments, as well as some internalized transphobia) it, like Ander & Santi, centers queer joy. It's about learning to love yourself, in all your complexity and messiness, and about learning to let other people love you, too.
Lastly, Canto Contigo vibrates with music. Not only are the characters all all musicians and the plot involves the lead-up to the Mariachi national competition, but music is always playing in scenes and specific songs and musicians are constantly referenced. I wouldn't have expected this to work for me, but it really, really did. I may have even made a playlist of all the songs and musicians that show up in the book...
Canto Contigo is great. I can't wait to see what Jonny Garza Villa writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
In Canto Contigo, Rafie is a Mariachi musician who knows he's the best at what he does. He's led his high school Mariachi group to three consecutive first-place wins at nationals as their lead vocalist, and is eager to do so again during his senior year. But right before the school year starts, his family abruptly moves to a new city. Rafie, who is already very much not into this unexpected transition and is also grieving the recent death of his abuelo, is further outraged to be named backup vocalist instead of the lead for his new school's Mariachi group. To make matters worse, the person who currently holds that coveted role is a cutie who Rafie hooked up with some months ago and has been daydreaming about ever since. What we have here is a fun, queer take on the rivals to lovers trope, a tender exploration of grief, and a meandering journey toward self-love and the joy that accompanies it.
I'm still coming down from finishing this book, and am sure I'll have a lot more thoughts and feelings in the coming weeks. I loved it, but not quite as much as Ander & Santi, and I think it could have used another editing pass through (beyond just some typos which will hopefully be cleaned up prior to final publication). I also already know a few of its impressive elements will be reverberating through my consciousness for a while: Jonny Garza Villa's gentle and honest handling of being a teenager, their continued commitment to celebrating queer joy and love, and a deft inclusion of music throughout.
Sometimes when I read YA, I struggle with how teenager-y the main characters are, simply, I think, because I'm old and not a teenager anymore. I cannot emphasize enough how much I don't miss being a teenager and all the emotional swings and turmoil that accompanied that time of my life, and when a writer can perfectly depict the pain of teenagedom I just... it can be too much. Which is all to say, the teenager-ness wasn't too much for me in Canto Contigo. Garza Villa perfectly captures what it is to be a teenager -- the angst, self-absorption, emotional upheaval, hormonal swings -- but does so in a way that made me feel for Rafie. Yeah, I wanted to shake him a few times and did my fair share of eye rolling, too, but mostly I just wanted to give him a hug and tell him things would be okay.
I also struggle with the fact that a lot of books that depict queerness often focus on the challenges society presents to queer people. While Canto Contigo doesn't shy away from these very real problems and injustices (please heed its content warnings, which include homophobic and transphobic comments, as well as some internalized transphobia) it, like Ander & Santi, centers queer joy. It's about learning to love yourself, in all your complexity and messiness, and about learning to let other people love you, too.
Lastly, Canto Contigo vibrates with music. Not only are the characters all all musicians and the plot involves the lead-up to the Mariachi national competition, but music is always playing in scenes and specific songs and musicians are constantly referenced. I wouldn't have expected this to work for me, but it really, really did. I may have even made a playlist of all the songs and musicians that show up in the book...
Canto Contigo is great. I can't wait to see what Jonny Garza Villa writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
April 2, 2024
Jonny Garza Villa's Canto Contigo is a young adult, opposites attract, enemies to lovers story. The audio version is beautifully performed by Alejandro Antonio Ruiz. I loved the way this audiobook is produced, with the music and all the emotion at the forefront.
I fell in love with these wonderfully complex caracters, and it was such a treat to learn about the tradition of Mexican music called Mariachi. It's marvelous that these young people take such pride in their culture and their history.
Canto Contigo is a must read on so many levels, and I highly recommend this magnificent novel.
an audiobook copy of Canto Contigo was provided by Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
I fell in love with these wonderfully complex caracters, and it was such a treat to learn about the tradition of Mexican music called Mariachi. It's marvelous that these young people take such pride in their culture and their history.
Canto Contigo is a must read on so many levels, and I highly recommend this magnificent novel.
an audiobook copy of Canto Contigo was provided by Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
Want to read
October 14, 2022YOU DON'T UNDERSTANDDD, JONNY MENTIONED THIS ONCE, IN PASSING ON THEIR TWITTER LIKE A YEAR AGO AND I WAS FOAMING AT THE MOUTH THEN, I'M FOAMING AT THE MOUTH NOW;FAJSD;LKFJADSLKFJA;LDSJF BLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
September 18, 2024
Este libro fue una combinación perfecta de música, inclusión, duelo y romance. Es un bonito recordatorio de sentirnos orgullosos de nuestra herencia cultural y como mantenerla viva.
Me gustó mucho y lo voy a estar recomendando bastante, esperemos pronto lo traduzcan al español.
4.5/5 ⭐️
Me gustó mucho y lo voy a estar recomendando bastante, esperemos pronto lo traduzcan al español.
4.5/5 ⭐️
May 27, 2024
I've loved every Jonny Garza Villa book so far but this one is by far my favorite! I'm so weak for rivals to lovers--especially when they're pining for each other at the same time--and this book delivered exactly what I wanted. I even laughed out loud a few times reading their banter. The overarching story too, about grief and dealing with the loss of a loved one, hit home.
Also, I really loved that Rey was trans.
Definitely a stand out book of 2024 for me!
Also, I really loved that Rey was trans.
Definitely a stand out book of 2024 for me!
April 15, 2024
This was a fantastic YA romance between two rival Latinx high school mariarchis competing as a group but also between one another for a solo.
I loved the romance between the two leads, the diverse cast of characters, the trans rep and the insights into the world of Mariachi.
Highly recommended for fans of books like Kiss me Catalina. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and gorgeous finished copy in exchange for my honest review - this was excellent on audio!
I loved the romance between the two leads, the diverse cast of characters, the trans rep and the insights into the world of Mariachi.
Highly recommended for fans of books like Kiss me Catalina. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and gorgeous finished copy in exchange for my honest review - this was excellent on audio!
August 28, 2024
2024 reads: 75/250
2024 tbr: 39/120
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
rafie never expected to leave behind his mariachi band right before his senior year. what’s more, he didn’t expect to not get the role of lead singer at his new school…instead, that position goes to rey, the boy that rafie made out with after last year’s competition. rafie is determined to best him, but his feelings won’t stop getting in the way.
i adored ander & santi were here last year, so i was very excited to read the author’s newest book! this had its heavy moments, as rafie is dealing with the grief from his grandfather’s death and wanting to honor his memory. i thought this aspect was depicted well and handled with respect. however, it also had fun moments, especially when the mariachi competitions happened. i loved learning more about mariachi and seeing rafie’s relationship to it develop. he and rey also had a great relationship development and i was so invested the whole time.
i highly recommend this to YA romance readers!
2024 tbr: 39/120
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
rafie never expected to leave behind his mariachi band right before his senior year. what’s more, he didn’t expect to not get the role of lead singer at his new school…instead, that position goes to rey, the boy that rafie made out with after last year’s competition. rafie is determined to best him, but his feelings won’t stop getting in the way.
i adored ander & santi were here last year, so i was very excited to read the author’s newest book! this had its heavy moments, as rafie is dealing with the grief from his grandfather’s death and wanting to honor his memory. i thought this aspect was depicted well and handled with respect. however, it also had fun moments, especially when the mariachi competitions happened. i loved learning more about mariachi and seeing rafie’s relationship to it develop. he and rey also had a great relationship development and i was so invested the whole time.
i highly recommend this to YA romance readers!
October 22, 2025
4.5 ★ I fear I’ve found myself another auto buy author. The way I just wanted to give my boy Rafa a hug the entire book, like yes he might’ve come across a bit stuck up at times but honestly he was consumed by his grief and trying to live up and show out for his grandfather which made me so envious like I want a relationship like that with my grandparents. But then we have his growth throughout the book and I loved seeing him realize that it’s okay to open yourself up to other people and depend on another’s 😭. And Jonny just has a way of writing such sweet love interests cause Rey?! My baby boy, god I loved him. Ugh I adored these two!!!
Update 10/22: CANTO CONTIGO POR SIEMPRE MI HERMOSO 😭😭😭😭😭 GOOOOOOOSSSHH I LOVE THESE TWO!!!!!!
Update 10/22: CANTO CONTIGO POR SIEMPRE MI HERMOSO 😭😭😭😭😭 GOOOOOOOSSSHH I LOVE THESE TWO!!!!!!
June 19, 2024
4 stars.
I really enjoyed this novel and I think one of my main take aways is "I'm glad this book exists." I will readily admit that I am not the target audience for this book in a multitude of ways, but even so, this book resonated with me.
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Summary:
Following the loss of his abuelo, Rafie is determined to honor his memory by being the best vocalist the mariachi world has ever known, and he's on track to do it with his North Amistad group after winning the nationals three years running. But then his family moves to San Antonio, he's forced to join a new group that has only ever won second place, and, worst of all, the music director at the new school has appointed someone else to be the lead vocalist, and suddenly Rafie's entire life is going up in flames. It's cool, though. He's got this. All he needs to do is get the other vocalist out of the picture, easy. Even if Rey is kind of amazing. And attractive. And totally distracting. But Rafie can't afford to be distracted. There can only be one winner, and it has to be him.
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This book touched on so many great topics related to Mexican American culture, grief, queerness, trauma, mental health, etc, and it handled them very well. The way Rafie's emotional journey was portrayed felt pretty real, even if he occasionally drove me a little nuts, and I really enjoyed his character growth. The bit with the statue was a little odd to me and I worried a bit about Rafie's sanity during those moments, but those scenes were great for character development moments. And I adored Rafi's family, Rey and the rest of Todos Colores!
What worked for me:
- Good handling of topics related to queer identity and experiences, mental health, and grief.
- A fun cast of characters, even thought the main character could occasionally be frustrating to read.
- A really great character voice throughout the book! Which leads to the next point...
- The audiobook narration was quite good! I went back and forth between the audiobook and the text book while reading, and the audiobook definitely helped make all the voices and characters feel more alive! I wasn't a huge fan of the way Rey was narrated, but it was more of a personal preference thing.
Overall, a solid 4 star queer YA romance that addresses a lot of great topics while being a fun and entertaining read!
I really enjoyed this novel and I think one of my main take aways is "I'm glad this book exists." I will readily admit that I am not the target audience for this book in a multitude of ways, but even so, this book resonated with me.
-
Summary:
Following the loss of his abuelo, Rafie is determined to honor his memory by being the best vocalist the mariachi world has ever known, and he's on track to do it with his North Amistad group after winning the nationals three years running. But then his family moves to San Antonio, he's forced to join a new group that has only ever won second place, and, worst of all, the music director at the new school has appointed someone else to be the lead vocalist, and suddenly Rafie's entire life is going up in flames. It's cool, though. He's got this. All he needs to do is get the other vocalist out of the picture, easy. Even if Rey is kind of amazing. And attractive. And totally distracting. But Rafie can't afford to be distracted. There can only be one winner, and it has to be him.
-
This book touched on so many great topics related to Mexican American culture, grief, queerness, trauma, mental health, etc, and it handled them very well. The way Rafie's emotional journey was portrayed felt pretty real, even if he occasionally drove me a little nuts, and I really enjoyed his character growth. The bit with the statue was a little odd to me and I worried a bit about Rafie's sanity during those moments, but those scenes were great for character development moments. And I adored Rafi's family, Rey and the rest of Todos Colores!
What worked for me:
- Good handling of topics related to queer identity and experiences, mental health, and grief.
- A fun cast of characters, even thought the main character could occasionally be frustrating to read.
- A really great character voice throughout the book! Which leads to the next point...
- The audiobook narration was quite good! I went back and forth between the audiobook and the text book while reading, and the audiobook definitely helped make all the voices and characters feel more alive! I wasn't a huge fan of the way Rey was narrated, but it was more of a personal preference thing.
Overall, a solid 4 star queer YA romance that addresses a lot of great topics while being a fun and entertaining read!
August 19, 2024
I swear, Jonny Garza Villa's stories just sing to my soul!! Canto Contigo is a beautifully queer YA rivals-to-lovers romance that provides equal parts hurt and joy.
After adoring Ander & Santi Were Here last year (still not fully recovered from that one), Garza Villa immediately shot to the top of my auto-buy authors list. And as expected, their newest release Canto Contigo did not disappoint.
I absolutely loved the big focus on the music (Mariachi) aspect of this story, especially because Garza Villa's prose is inherently already so melodic and soulful. The way that the two romantic leads here find solace and comfort in their passion for singing was just so heartwarming, and I loved how they had to overcome their rivalry to ultimately shine their brightest in the spotlight.
Now, I can see how people might bounce off the slightly arrogant and self-centred personality of Rafie at the start, but I personally always love a good unlikeable protagonist. His inner conflict and journey of self-discovery as he works through his grief was so powerful to witness, and I deeply appreciated that he was allowed to be so realistically messy and flawed in his growth. Moreover, the importance and power of strong familial and platonic bonds is such an integral part of Rafie's story, which only gave Canto Contigo even more heart.
Though of all the compelling interpersonal relationships, the delicious romance is obviously the highlight. The moment we met Rey, a.k.a. the most wholesome cinnamon roll who honestly deserves to be protected at all costs, I was just sold. The instant electrifying chemistry between him and Rafie just oozed off the page, even (or maybe especially) once their dynamic becomes more of rivalry. There's a strong mutual respect between the two, which is exactly what makes their slow-burn romance so incredibly passionate despite their complicated feelings.
Ultimately the resolution might have felt a tiny bit cheesy and predictable to me, but I honestly think it was the perfect way to end this heartwarming and empowering story. If you are looking for a mature and queer YA romance that feels like a love song to Mexican culture, then you have to check out Canto Contigo
After adoring Ander & Santi Were Here last year (still not fully recovered from that one), Garza Villa immediately shot to the top of my auto-buy authors list. And as expected, their newest release Canto Contigo did not disappoint.
I absolutely loved the big focus on the music (Mariachi) aspect of this story, especially because Garza Villa's prose is inherently already so melodic and soulful. The way that the two romantic leads here find solace and comfort in their passion for singing was just so heartwarming, and I loved how they had to overcome their rivalry to ultimately shine their brightest in the spotlight.
Now, I can see how people might bounce off the slightly arrogant and self-centred personality of Rafie at the start, but I personally always love a good unlikeable protagonist. His inner conflict and journey of self-discovery as he works through his grief was so powerful to witness, and I deeply appreciated that he was allowed to be so realistically messy and flawed in his growth. Moreover, the importance and power of strong familial and platonic bonds is such an integral part of Rafie's story, which only gave Canto Contigo even more heart.
Though of all the compelling interpersonal relationships, the delicious romance is obviously the highlight. The moment we met Rey, a.k.a. the most wholesome cinnamon roll who honestly deserves to be protected at all costs, I was just sold. The instant electrifying chemistry between him and Rafie just oozed off the page, even (or maybe especially) once their dynamic becomes more of rivalry. There's a strong mutual respect between the two, which is exactly what makes their slow-burn romance so incredibly passionate despite their complicated feelings.
Ultimately the resolution might have felt a tiny bit cheesy and predictable to me, but I honestly think it was the perfect way to end this heartwarming and empowering story. If you are looking for a mature and queer YA romance that feels like a love song to Mexican culture, then you have to check out Canto Contigo
March 31, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I've been meaning to read a Jonny Garza Villa book for ages, and this did not disappoint. I loved this book. My favourite romances are ones that go deep and this rivals to lovers YA romance explored grief, homophobia, transphobia and mental health in a nuanced and beautiful way. Rafie is an asshole for most of the book, he's struggling with the loss of his abuelo and the idea that he must win at all costs to honour his abuelo's wishes. I like that Garza Villa didn't shy away from having Rafie be a self-centered jerk at times. It was refreshing to see, frustrating at times, but ultimately worth it. It's a realistic journey with setbacks and poor choices that Rafie has to grapple with, I do wish we had seen more of Rey, I would have loved to see his POV because it was difficult especially near the beginning to understand why Rey was still interested in Rafie.
I know next to nothing about Mariachi and I was worried that would affect my enjoyment, but it didn't. Missing a few references and not knowing any of the songs didn't matter (though I will be listening to them soon for the full effect).
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves queer romance and especially music lovers.
I've been meaning to read a Jonny Garza Villa book for ages, and this did not disappoint. I loved this book. My favourite romances are ones that go deep and this rivals to lovers YA romance explored grief, homophobia, transphobia and mental health in a nuanced and beautiful way. Rafie is an asshole for most of the book, he's struggling with the loss of his abuelo and the idea that he must win at all costs to honour his abuelo's wishes. I like that Garza Villa didn't shy away from having Rafie be a self-centered jerk at times. It was refreshing to see, frustrating at times, but ultimately worth it. It's a realistic journey with setbacks and poor choices that Rafie has to grapple with, I do wish we had seen more of Rey, I would have loved to see his POV because it was difficult especially near the beginning to understand why Rey was still interested in Rafie.
I know next to nothing about Mariachi and I was worried that would affect my enjoyment, but it didn't. Missing a few references and not knowing any of the songs didn't matter (though I will be listening to them soon for the full effect).
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves queer romance and especially music lovers.
February 6, 2025
Rafie is a high school Mariachi band super star, who has led his team to three straight first place wins as lead vocalist, but then his beloved abuelo dies on the night of that third win and a few months later his family moves him to another town and another school, where he is shocked to discover he won’t be made lead vocalist in their Mariachi band. And his competition? The boy he met and made out with last year at the final competition, and about whom he’s been dreaming of ever since.
This lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers story is excellent on so many levels and absolutely deserved the Stonewall YA win. I mean, who doesn’t want to read about characters in a high school competitive Mariachi band?! And the gay and trans characters are so well done – they’re the MCs of the story but the story isn’t *about* them being gay or trans; it’s just about two teens trying to figure out how to fall in love when it seems like they’re supposed to be enemies. The plot line about Rafie’s grief over his abuelo is nicely handled as well. An overall wonderful read and I highly recommend it.
This lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers story is excellent on so many levels and absolutely deserved the Stonewall YA win. I mean, who doesn’t want to read about characters in a high school competitive Mariachi band?! And the gay and trans characters are so well done – they’re the MCs of the story but the story isn’t *about* them being gay or trans; it’s just about two teens trying to figure out how to fall in love when it seems like they’re supposed to be enemies. The plot line about Rafie’s grief over his abuelo is nicely handled as well. An overall wonderful read and I highly recommend it.
February 10, 2025
Rafie is such an interesting narrator to me because truly I've never related to a character less. Not because he's queer or Mexican American but because he is SO confident/arrogant/vain. And I understand his reasons and his ~journey~ and the pressure he's under etc but every time I was just like DAMN who died and made you the Mariachi King?! (Answer: his abuelo.)
That said I didn't find him an UNLIKEABLE narrator per se (which I'm seeing in some other reviews here) just like stunning to be in the head of someone who's like "well I'm the best there is at what I do (and what I do best is mariachi)." Truly wild. Biggest fish in the smallest pond. I related most to his new music teacher who was constantly on her last nerve.
That said I liked it and thought the romance was plausible and sweet! Growth!!!
That said I didn't find him an UNLIKEABLE narrator per se (which I'm seeing in some other reviews here) just like stunning to be in the head of someone who's like "well I'm the best there is at what I do (and what I do best is mariachi)." Truly wild. Biggest fish in the smallest pond. I related most to his new music teacher who was constantly on her last nerve.
That said I liked it and thought the romance was plausible and sweet! Growth!!!
December 21, 2024
I listened to 25% and could not take it anymore. The protagonist is always unhappy, insulted or disappointed. No hope or pleasure is his thoughts. The narrator was fine.
April 6, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest, spoiler-free review!
It took a while to get through this book because of school, but I enjoyed my time reading it.
It starts with a prologue that explains the main character’s, Rafie’s, past, and I thought that the way it was written, was nicely connected to the present storyline. You’re introduced to Rafie’s losses and his grief as well as his first meeting with the love interest, Rey. Although I enjoyed the chemistry and the characterizations, I felt like the author moved a bit too fast at times.
I enjoyed following the characters in the story. I enjoyed seeing Rafie and Rey’s enemies-to-lovers interactions and banter. I loved their teasing and their chemistry. I thought they had great tension, especially when they argued with each other. However, I was frustrated with Rafie at first, especially with their argumentative nature at times. But seeing the grief that he has faced and reading his inner monologue, I can understand where he is coming from. Grief isn’t an easy feat to maneuver and it can make you do strange things. Yet, Rafie’s growth was promising. He learned to cope and become a better person. He started becoming a brighter person, and overall, I really liked his character development and story arc. As for Rey, he is the sweetest character. He is super supportive of Rafie and is overall a super kind and passionate individual. He is also trans and a Black Latine, which is a great representation. One thing I would’ve liked to see is a bit more of a fleshed-out storyline for Rey as well.
As for the plot, it was great as well. It’s your “enemies-to-lovers” and “coming-of-age” young adult novel so some conventions are to be expected. Teenagers act like, you know, teenagers, and kind of do some stupid things because of pent-up unexpressed anger, hormones, and difficult emotions like grief. But overall, I liked following QPA’s Mariachi band. I liked the interactions between all the characters and how they supported each other. I liked the antics and schemes that the characters pulled, and I enjoyed the insertion of some witty humour and pop-culture references. The ending of the book ends… where you expect it to. But I think it’s pretty fitting and it ties up quite nicely.
Finally, I think it’s always important to write books featuring diversity. Not only does this book feature plenty of queer characters, but it also has Mexican representation. This book heavily centres around a Mariachi competition. It also features plenty of references to Tejano culture and important Latine figures. There is also a lot of Spanish included in this book. Though I am not Latine and cannot comment on whether the representation is good, I think that it’s important for young Latines, Mexicans and Tejano to have a YA book that reflects their culture, especially one written by an Own-Voices author.
Overall, I enjoyed this book.
Hence, 4/5 stars
It took a while to get through this book because of school, but I enjoyed my time reading it.
It starts with a prologue that explains the main character’s, Rafie’s, past, and I thought that the way it was written, was nicely connected to the present storyline. You’re introduced to Rafie’s losses and his grief as well as his first meeting with the love interest, Rey. Although I enjoyed the chemistry and the characterizations, I felt like the author moved a bit too fast at times.
I enjoyed following the characters in the story. I enjoyed seeing Rafie and Rey’s enemies-to-lovers interactions and banter. I loved their teasing and their chemistry. I thought they had great tension, especially when they argued with each other. However, I was frustrated with Rafie at first, especially with their argumentative nature at times. But seeing the grief that he has faced and reading his inner monologue, I can understand where he is coming from. Grief isn’t an easy feat to maneuver and it can make you do strange things. Yet, Rafie’s growth was promising. He learned to cope and become a better person. He started becoming a brighter person, and overall, I really liked his character development and story arc. As for Rey, he is the sweetest character. He is super supportive of Rafie and is overall a super kind and passionate individual. He is also trans and a Black Latine, which is a great representation. One thing I would’ve liked to see is a bit more of a fleshed-out storyline for Rey as well.
As for the plot, it was great as well. It’s your “enemies-to-lovers” and “coming-of-age” young adult novel so some conventions are to be expected. Teenagers act like, you know, teenagers, and kind of do some stupid things because of pent-up unexpressed anger, hormones, and difficult emotions like grief. But overall, I liked following QPA’s Mariachi band. I liked the interactions between all the characters and how they supported each other. I liked the antics and schemes that the characters pulled, and I enjoyed the insertion of some witty humour and pop-culture references. The ending of the book ends… where you expect it to. But I think it’s pretty fitting and it ties up quite nicely.
Finally, I think it’s always important to write books featuring diversity. Not only does this book feature plenty of queer characters, but it also has Mexican representation. This book heavily centres around a Mariachi competition. It also features plenty of references to Tejano culture and important Latine figures. There is also a lot of Spanish included in this book. Though I am not Latine and cannot comment on whether the representation is good, I think that it’s important for young Latines, Mexicans and Tejano to have a YA book that reflects their culture, especially one written by an Own-Voices author.
Overall, I enjoyed this book.
Hence, 4/5 stars
May 16, 2024
The entire first 200 pages I cannot express how over Rafie I was. As the main character, the arrogance and cockiness was not charming at all. Rafie is used to being the best and is constantly striving for perfection. When he must transfer to a new school, and while auditioning for a place on the mariachi band, his new director puts it plainly: You have the skill, but you lack the soul. That certain something that audiences connect to when they listen to you sing. This carries over into Rafie as a person. He’s a shell. He’s such a one-dimensional character that uses his talent as a shield. The one thing carrying the first half of this book is Rey. Rey is the absolute heart of this book. Someone who sees the good in others when absolutely nobody else does. I kept wishing that Rey had been the main character for so much of this book. But it is only through Rey that we finally see Rafie start to break down his walls.
The last 100 pages are beautiful (and painful), hurt people hurt people, but the moments of release shine so brightly! Rafie has such a supportive family. I loved the tenderness of his relationship with his father. I’m so glad we finally get to see why he held himself to such high expectations because for most of the book it didn’t make sense. His mother and father certainly weren’t putting those pressures on him. The revelation that HE does it to himself because HE thinks that’s the only way to honor his abuelo and make him proud – not realizing just being himself was already enough to accomplish that.
Touching and sweet. Worth chipping through those first pages – as Rey chipped through Rafies hardened exterior – to find the heart that’s on the inside.
3.5 rounded up!
The last 100 pages are beautiful (and painful), hurt people hurt people, but the moments of release shine so brightly! Rafie has such a supportive family. I loved the tenderness of his relationship with his father. I’m so glad we finally get to see why he held himself to such high expectations because for most of the book it didn’t make sense. His mother and father certainly weren’t putting those pressures on him. The revelation that HE does it to himself because HE thinks that’s the only way to honor his abuelo and make him proud – not realizing just being himself was already enough to accomplish that.
Touching and sweet. Worth chipping through those first pages – as Rey chipped through Rafies hardened exterior – to find the heart that’s on the inside.
3.5 rounded up!
April 9, 2024
Once again, Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa gave my Spanish to English dictionary quite the workout. The swear words I learned from the author’s previous book, Ander & Santi Were Here, definitely helped me here as well as googling Mexican slang. Because of my own experience with grief, I understood Rafie’s feelings of trying to be the perfect mariachi singer/ the number one in honor of his Abuelo and feeling like he’s letting him down. “Because he’s gone. He can’t say shit. I can’t—I can’t hear him anymore. And more than anything, what would make me happiest is remembering what it sounds like when he says he’s proud of me.” Grief is at the heart of this book, along with self-doubt and love for family, friends, first loves and yourself. “Fix Me Now” by Garbage is the non-Spanish theme song I give to this book. ARC was provided by Wednesday Books via NetGalley. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 31, 2024
5 Stars
This. Book. Is. Perfection.
I loyally cried at the end and audibly went “omg ahhhhhhhhh my heartttttttt”, so yeah, I’m a fan.
What I expected (and got) was an amazing queer romance full of Mexican culture and loads of mariachi. What I didn’t expect, but may have loved most, was the portrayal of how messy grief can be and how it makes us into people we might not want to be.
I don’t want to give too much away, but this book perfectly showcases how love isn’t always easy, loss of love may be even harder, but the only way to become the best version of ourselves is to let love change us for the better, even though it is hard.
I cannot recommend this book enough and I DESPERATELY hope we get an adaptation of it on screen one day. It would be ICONIC.
*thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review*
This. Book. Is. Perfection.
I loyally cried at the end and audibly went “omg ahhhhhhhhh my heartttttttt”, so yeah, I’m a fan.
What I expected (and got) was an amazing queer romance full of Mexican culture and loads of mariachi. What I didn’t expect, but may have loved most, was the portrayal of how messy grief can be and how it makes us into people we might not want to be.
I don’t want to give too much away, but this book perfectly showcases how love isn’t always easy, loss of love may be even harder, but the only way to become the best version of ourselves is to let love change us for the better, even though it is hard.
I cannot recommend this book enough and I DESPERATELY hope we get an adaptation of it on screen one day. It would be ICONIC.
*thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review*
August 31, 2023
Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun is still my favorite Jonny Garza Villa book, but this was still great. I loved Rafie and especially Rey.
Read
January 2, 2025Ditched at 20%, because I had no more time for Rafie's nonsense.
January 17, 2025
This book was selected by gay ass book club and while I had doubts about it towards the middle, I was just gagged and gooped by this YA novel's effect on me.
The story's about Rafie Alvarez, 2-time winner of Lead Vocalist of North Amistad, whose grandfather dies and implores to him the value of being the best and keep becoming the best mariachi singer out there. Now he meets this guy in a party that shook him to his core but they never really got in contact again until ten months later when Rafie, against his will, moves to a different school where guess what that guy he met is the lead vocalist of the school's mariachi band. Now, the rivalry begins. It's an almost lover--> rivals ---> lovers story.
What I love about this is that it never translates the Spanish words and phrases. Garza Villa was like "fuck them bitches, get them to Google fucken Translate". It's a commitment to Mexicans as well, it's a nod that says it was written for them too. (Not that it's EXCLUSIVELY written for them but I hope you're not too dense to get that). I had to ask my Spanish speaking novio to translate phrases for me.
By the middle of the book, you're like, okay, it feels like this is going to be predictable. There's a conflict towards the end that will almost break them up but they will end up together, and they will obviously win the mariachi band competition. But then I realize, maybe that's okay, maybe twists for the sake of twists are overrated, maybe the journey to get there is fun and mellow ride. And it was, it's such a delight to read. The cathartic scene where he finally breaks down his ego to him, the sex scene, the mariachi performance, the competition, the winning, the flashback/ imagined scene with his grandpa saying he's proud of him, all of it was such a fantastic read. I almost--almost!--cried.
But this is without saying that I loathed the main character for the first two hundred pages, maybe I still sort of do--I've never yelled at a fictional character in my character as I was listening to the audiobook like this. I was screaming fucking bitch, arrogant bitch ass, shut the fuck up, hope you die miserably, because he was such an asshole. Like is there really a hateful Mexican boy who wants his grandpa proud that acts like this? It was unrealistic. Even how he explained himself, I was like, okay, well, trauma does not excuse this. I don't give a fuck. But, I digress, I was like, ok, I'll go along with it. It's cute, it's alright to have unlikeable characters, who cares, this is not about me, I'm grown. Chill out. So just as a warning, you may hate him.
Also, I basically listened to the audiobook like 40% of the time and the narrator was hella sexy. I didn't know audiobooks nowadays of fiction are soooo good. I've only been listening to celebrite memoirs but now that I'm adding fiction to the mix, I've only just realized how good the voice actors are. Likeeeeeee.
I also commend him for including language that is up-to-date. His writing feels fresh. Garza Villa would say things like "if you see me having fun, no you didn't." It caught me off-guard at first because I only heard that in real life or in the comment section of a Tiktok (RIP?) video.
On that note as well, as a literature major, graduated in 2017, I proclaim that this book was well-written too. As a YA book, his writing feels natural. It's not flowery like literary fiction but it's not "Colleen Hoover levels of 'tell, don't show' YA-style"that a lot of YA books are. But the scenes are well written. The book is slow but evenly paced. The drama that unfolded was justified. Dialogue was great. He knows how to write fiction but doesn't overly flexes it like a lot of literary fiction or YA authors do. Maybe I'm new to this all new era of YA M/M romance as I'm regaining my love for books again but overall, this book is such a win. Such a good way to live the lives of someone in a mariachi band in high school.
Also, I want a mariachi band in my wedding.
Also, there's a Canto Contigo playlist on Spotify that you can listen to, to get with the vibes.
The story's about Rafie Alvarez, 2-time winner of Lead Vocalist of North Amistad, whose grandfather dies and implores to him the value of being the best and keep becoming the best mariachi singer out there. Now he meets this guy in a party that shook him to his core but they never really got in contact again until ten months later when Rafie, against his will, moves to a different school where guess what that guy he met is the lead vocalist of the school's mariachi band. Now, the rivalry begins. It's an almost lover--> rivals ---> lovers story.
What I love about this is that it never translates the Spanish words and phrases. Garza Villa was like "fuck them bitches, get them to Google fucken Translate". It's a commitment to Mexicans as well, it's a nod that says it was written for them too. (Not that it's EXCLUSIVELY written for them but I hope you're not too dense to get that). I had to ask my Spanish speaking novio to translate phrases for me.
By the middle of the book, you're like, okay, it feels like this is going to be predictable. There's a conflict towards the end that will almost break them up but they will end up together, and they will obviously win the mariachi band competition. But then I realize, maybe that's okay, maybe twists for the sake of twists are overrated, maybe the journey to get there is fun and mellow ride. And it was, it's such a delight to read. The cathartic scene where he finally breaks down his ego to him, the sex scene, the mariachi performance, the competition, the winning, the flashback/ imagined scene with his grandpa saying he's proud of him, all of it was such a fantastic read. I almost--almost!--cried.
But this is without saying that I loathed the main character for the first two hundred pages, maybe I still sort of do--I've never yelled at a fictional character in my character as I was listening to the audiobook like this. I was screaming fucking bitch, arrogant bitch ass, shut the fuck up, hope you die miserably, because he was such an asshole. Like is there really a hateful Mexican boy who wants his grandpa proud that acts like this? It was unrealistic. Even how he explained himself, I was like, okay, well, trauma does not excuse this. I don't give a fuck. But, I digress, I was like, ok, I'll go along with it. It's cute, it's alright to have unlikeable characters, who cares, this is not about me, I'm grown. Chill out. So just as a warning, you may hate him.
Also, I basically listened to the audiobook like 40% of the time and the narrator was hella sexy. I didn't know audiobooks nowadays of fiction are soooo good. I've only been listening to celebrite memoirs but now that I'm adding fiction to the mix, I've only just realized how good the voice actors are. Likeeeeeee.
I also commend him for including language that is up-to-date. His writing feels fresh. Garza Villa would say things like "if you see me having fun, no you didn't." It caught me off-guard at first because I only heard that in real life or in the comment section of a Tiktok (RIP?) video.
On that note as well, as a literature major, graduated in 2017, I proclaim that this book was well-written too. As a YA book, his writing feels natural. It's not flowery like literary fiction but it's not "Colleen Hoover levels of 'tell, don't show' YA-style"that a lot of YA books are. But the scenes are well written. The book is slow but evenly paced. The drama that unfolded was justified. Dialogue was great. He knows how to write fiction but doesn't overly flexes it like a lot of literary fiction or YA authors do. Maybe I'm new to this all new era of YA M/M romance as I'm regaining my love for books again but overall, this book is such a win. Such a good way to live the lives of someone in a mariachi band in high school.
Also, I want a mariachi band in my wedding.
Also, there's a Canto Contigo playlist on Spotify that you can listen to, to get with the vibes.
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