Wavelength

by Cale Plett

Hannah Montana meets Heartstopper in this story of a teen pop star on the run from fame who finds family, love and gender euphoria when they become entangled with a local band.

Teen pop sensation Sasha may be famous, but they’ve always kept a layer of anonymity by covering their face to perform. Facing pressure to unmask in public, Sasha runs away to a nowhere midwestern city, planning to finish senior year and come out as nonbinary away from the limelight. But their plan falters from the moment they meet Wavelength, an alt-rock band, and their lead singer.

Lillian is struggling to keep the band together, caught in a mess of lyrics, late-night texts and ill-conceived love notes. She’s torn between feelings for her ex-girlfriend (and ex-bandmember) and her new infatuation with Sasha. Maybe this stranger is the new singer and the new love she’s looking for — even though Sasha’s stories don’t seem to quite add up.

If a whisper of Sasha’s fame gets out, their new life is over. Sasha’s manager is tracking them down, Wavelength is on the rise, and everyone’s hearts are in the mosh pit. Turn off the houselights. The band’s counting in.






Key Text Features

chapters

dialogue

lyrics

Genres: Young Adult, Queer, LGBT, Romance, Contemporary, Music, Contemporary Romance

408 pages, Paperback

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

CALE PLETT is a nonbinary, genderfluid writer who lives on Treaty One Territory in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Their YA novels span everything from high school rock bands to nightmares in the woods to reality TV gone wrong, and their poetry and short fiction can be found in a whole variety of journals. Whatever genre they’re writing, they try to create spaces where queer characters can exist safely within their identities. Their karaoke is tuneless, and the last time their car was broken into, the only things left behind were their mix CDs.

Wavelength is their debut novel, forthcoming October 7, 2025 from Groundwood Books (House of Anansi)

Their second YA, a horror novel called The Saw Mouth, is coming out summer 2026 from Delacorte Press (Penguin Random House).

Cale Plett is represented by Amy Tompkins at Transatlantic Agency.

Follow them @caleplett on Instagram to stay up to date and for little glimpses into their life and brain.

Reviews

[sunnoah · Rating 4 out of 5]

it took me a few days to finish this book and it’s not really because it wasn’t good but the beginning was a bit slow for me. first part of the book was ok but i really liked the second part !!! it really made me pay attention to the details and what was going on.

i love sasha so much 🫶🫶🫶 maybe i see myself in them.

i got an arc on netgalley !!

[Kie]

DNF!

Before I get into my review of “Wavelength”, I’d like to thank NetGalley for the ARC!

I’m sorry but this book just wasn’t for me, and I know that that is my fault. As a typically sapphic only book reader; I wanted to change it up and I feel this book just isn’t for me. I can definitely see how people would like this book but still it wasn’t for me.

[⋆｡°·☁︎ sydney ⋆｡°·☁︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you so much to netgalley for the arc!!
this book 😭😭
THIS. BOOK.
Actually in love with the characters, the vibes, EVERYTHING
I loved how this book could mash up so many different life lessons, be super wholesome, but also manage to rage against the machine a little bit.
Every scene and situation in this book went against average tropes and cliches, to make something even BETTER
genuinly so good and i love this so much 😭😭😭💕💕💕😍😍🥹🥹

[Jenn]

DNF. I just can't get into this one. For some reason, I usually have a hard time with stories about musicians. 🤷‍♀️

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This punk band novel will grab you from the first page. There’s a great mysterious set up, and just when it looks like the payoff is in sight, that we will find out what’s going on with Alexander, if not with his brother, the narrative jumps to Lillian, driving force in her high school band, who has just been dumped by her adored bass player, leaving the band torn by conflicting loyalties while its leader spirals.
Early on, much of the narrative is told with message chats, interspersed with one narrator or the other internalizing. It’s a style that works well and feels very contemporary. and even though we eventually realize it is teenagers talking, the issues they deal with are contemporaneous well into adulthood.: Education, breakups, coming out, the perils of being too recognizable, what to do with your life besides being part of something bigger?

Of course, these two worlds are going to collide, specifically over band practice. But since one of the participants is under deep cover, and the other is deep in emotional fallout, it is going to take a while to see where this goes.

Truthfully, after the frenetic feeling of these early chapters, the slowing pace feels like a relief, a chance to draw a breath, rather than a drag on the narrative. It’s really genius pacing for an age group raised on TikTok reels and 24/7 chat groups. Without the lulls, they would forget to breathe. it is the pause that refreshes.

Also, there are some delightfully snarky insights into the music industry, such as “lyrical, complexity of corn puffs”.

As the characters interact more in real life, and the text messages fade into the background, both narratives get a little bogged down dissecting every moment of their old and new relationships. The early tension in both narratives fades, the goals and consequences drift away, everything comes down to the immediate feelings. The intense interiority may not be a dealbreaker for you but, by the halfway mark, I was starting to yearn for some of that earlier tension again.

Fortunately, the stakes pick up again for both narrators, personally and professionally. Soon it is a breath-holding corkscrew read to the finish.

Themes include teen sexuality, gender identity, self expression, hyperfocus, rejection sensitive dysphoria, corporate pressures, music industry, and the anonymity of life as a corporate pawn.

#Netgalley #HouseOfAnansi #lgbtq #adolescence #YA #highschool #bandpractice #bassplayer #vocals #songwriting #fashion #celebrity #contracts #consequences #music #musicindustry #scandal #consent #statutory #imagepolishing #comingout #breakup #heartbreak #lies #secrets

[tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you House of Anasi Press for my physical copy of Wavelength!

Alexander Ash is apart of a One Direction-esque boy band with their brother Augustus, except Alexander keeps thier identity hidden with their helmet while in the public eye. Alexander is overwhelmed by the expectations & exposure of their life, especially while their brother is going through an active criminal trail. To escape their reality, Alexander disappears from the public eye, sheds the helmet and shys away to Nowhere, USA to try and gain some normalcy back.
Meanwhile, Lilian resides in Nowhere, USA where she is trying to mend her broken heart after her relationship with her fellow band member falls apart. Trying to actively manage her heartbreak & the band she created with her best friends, when she meets the new kid in town.
In this new safe enviroment, Alexander begins to identify as Sasha (they/them), initially to hide their true identity, but they quickly come to realize that Sasha is their true identity. Sasha quickly falls into Lilians group of misfits and eventually joins the band, Wavelength, where they fit right in.
Lilian and Sasha begin to develop their own romantic relationship while attempting to both navigate their issues with identity, self and belonging.
Sasha's main goal remains to stay out of the spotlight & prevent their identity from being revealed.

I was sent this book (which I am so thankful for) but I was unsure if I would like it. The description sounded intriging but the cover was not something I would typically pick up for myself. But I was pleasently surprised.

This book had a very widespread representation of the LGBTQ+ community. It displayed feelings of self doubt, self exploration & self discovery. It was a nice representation of how you can find yourself in the faces of those you surround yourself with. It was comforting to see this diverse group of friends support and uplift each other & promote each others uniqueness.

I was intrigued in the Hannah Montana esque storyline of it all. I was also interested to know how it ends and how Sasha gets out of the mess they made for themselves. I think the author did a good job at making you invested in the story.

My only negative emotion towards this book was mainly with Lilian. I felt her to be over the top at times, and I grew to understand that to just be the way her character was but it was annoying at times LOL. Her character in general would lead the book in places I did not need it to go... but I enjoyed the other characters.

I think people will like this :) And I am thankful it was sent to me!

[Addled Rabbit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book man. 5/5 easy.

I want to say in spirit it was a one sitting read but in practice it was a several nights read because it was just long enough and I was just busy enough I couldn't get it all in one, or even three sittings. But I wanted to.

It was so cute from the start. The characters really have their own personalities which is nice because sometimes parts of the, 'friend group,' are just there as names to react. Here though they all had their things going on. And I really loved the fact that they didn't always agree with eachother. Infact our two main characters were often enough in the wrong and called out for it which made them more real.

I actually really liked the double POV. It was a little hard to remember at times who we were with in that moment but I blame that on the way that ARCs scroll on Kindle. As far as how the story actually flowed, the back and forth really fleshed out all sides of the interactions. And I think my favorite part of it was the teeny tiny chapters when it was the other character for a few sentences, maybe a paragraph or two, before switching back. They added just that little bit of, 'other,' detail that really made some of the parts.

The song lyrics were such a nice touch. This story is so heavily based around music that it just made sense but also you get deeper into the characters and their feelings/thoughts through their music.

The plot itself is cute, moves along smooth. I dunno how realistic it was when it came to how accepting the town was as a whole or how little the Channel came looking/nobody questioned a kid on their own. But I accept that all as it's a YA coming into yourself/romance and sometimes things are just that way. Plus it was nice that in this world there were just good places.

The drama and issues the characters all face are interesting and cliche in a good way, while also adding in some extremely new ones that were refreshingly inclusive.

You really easily fall in love with certain characters. For me it was Alexander/Sasha. They were a delight and you were really rooting for them the entire time. Even the smaller details of them trying to figure out what to wear so often were adorable but really important for their actual growth and acceptance of themself.

Now to the other bits.

I liked Lillian don't get me wrong. But sometimes she was a bit much? It was a huge point of the story, will they won't they/who will it be? But at a few points I found myself being a tiny bit overwhelmed with her. However I think it really worked for her anyway as she's a bold, loud, sometimes rough around the edges person.

It was a fantastic build up to the end, there were twists there that I didn't see coming. However it all happened very quickly when it came to the tipping point and I only wish I could have seen more. Either more while it was happening or more after. It was a satisfying ending for sure but I was still left with a, 'okay but what now?' What did Sasha end up doing? Where did they end up staying? What happened with either band? How did the public take it? Etc.

All I can hope for in that case is maybe there will be a sequel.

All in all I loved this book enough I pretty quickly preordered a physical copy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Groundwood books for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[fanboyriot · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went back and forth with what to write because I don’t like leaving negative reviews especially with ARC books… but I really struggled to like this book.

The vibe of this book is nice, the atmosphere and universe feel realistic and fun. However, the villain plot point didn’t land for me. It felt too forced.

The main reason I didn’t care for this book was the characters, there was a good amount of LGBTQIA+ rep but there wasn’t much depth. There were more descriptions on how the characters looked than what they were feeling. Also the one character literally drinking while in high school was just an ick.

(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity.)

Read For
✓ Band
✓ Secret Identity
✓ YA (High School)
✓ Queer Characters
✓ Coming-Of-Age Vibes

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

Spice Level: 🌶️
Sad Level: 💧

Plot: 4/10
Pace: 7/10
Ending: 7/10
Characters: 4/10
Enjoyability: 2/10
Writing Style: 4/10
Would I Recommend? No
Favorite Character: n/a

Favorite Quote: ❝ Better late than never. Even when you know the way someone views the world is wrong, it takes a while to unlearn what you're surrounded by. A lifetime, maybe. There are tendrils of intruding thoughts, irrational prejudices, disgust toward yourself and everyone who doesn't check an improbable list of boxes that shouldn't need to be checked. ❞

POV: Multiple, First Person
Pages: 408
Format: ebook
Language: English
Release Date: 07, October 2025
Rep/Extras: LGBTQIA+ characters, Queer, Nonbinary, Pansexual

[Alex BM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wavelength has a great premise - the opening chapters really pull you in, and it has a huge amount of potential. I felt the pacing was good, although the book is rather long and occasionally drags. I loved the broad representation of the queer experience, especially how the characters didn’t focus so hard on labels.

However - so many of the characters themselves were just deeply hard to like. Plett has written realistic teenagers, but they’re so teenager-y that it feels over the top and unenjoyable to read. Despite her hatred for clichés, Lillian, and a number of other characters, did end up feeling very cliché. While I can understand Lillian’s tendency to get deeply caught up in her emotions, it ended up bogging the story down at times.

Additionally, Cyprus’s character could have benefitted from more likability. While they have some great moments with Sasha and Lillian, they didn’t feel nearly as fleshed out as the other members of Wavelength, and their tension with Lillian made them feel overly dramatic.

Finally, the reactions to Sasha’s reveal felt wayyyyy off to me. Yes, they lied, but it was a super understandable lie, and the fact that all of their friends got super angry and weren’t at all worried about their well-being in that moment didn’t sit right with me, even though they pulled it together in the final scenes.

Overall, I did enjoy Wavelength, but it was hard to love the story when some of the main characters were so annoying.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sasha is trapped in the middle of a publicity nightmare and has to get out. Completely out. Moving to a small town in the middle of nowhere, Sasha works hard to be true to themselves while also keeping their identity a secret for everyone's safety. But they meet Lillian who is bouncing back from a messy end of a relationship that devastates her and her band, Wavelength. Together, they help Lillian rebuild Wavelength and Sasha rediscover their love of music.

There was something so special about this book. Not only do the characters break apart gender constructs but they call out all the oppressive systems in our society. Lillian is my hero - she's loud and passionate and unapologetic and edgy and opinionated and cares so damn much! Wavelength is also a critique on how our society takes advantage of child stars and willfully ignores it. Sasha stole my heart as they fought so hard to discover who they are and break free from the pressure placed on them to forge their own path. While I have no musical abilities, reading them all express themselves through Wavelength's music was powerful and moving.

*ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Kelly Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wavelength is a tender, high-energy coming-of-age story that captures the exhilaration and vulnerability of being seen for who you truly are. Sasha, a teen pop star hiding behind both fame and a literal mask, is a compelling protagonist whose desire for anonymity and self-definition drives the emotional core of the novel. Their decision to run from the spotlight to quietly come out as nonbinary gives the story both urgency and intimacy.

Equally compelling is Lillian, the lead singer of Wavelength, whose creative frustration and emotional entanglements mirror the chaos of adolescence and first love. Her pull between a past relationship and her growing connection with Sasha adds nuance and realism, especially as music becomes the language through which both characters express what they can’t yet say aloud.

Blending romance, music, and queer self-discovery, Wavelength balances softness with momentum. It offers readers not just representation, but joy particularly in its portrayal of gender euphoria, found family, and the electric possibility of starting over.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wavelength is a story about discovering yourself and found family. I was so compelled by the four individuals of the friend group, each having their own character arc and relationship with Sasha. That being said, I almost wish there was no romance in it to begin with, as I feel like that detracted from the friend group story as a whole. I also am big on no sexual references in YA books, and having a romance introduced some of what I view as unnecessary sexual references about minors.

I also wish we had explored more about Sasha's father, who obviously cared enough about them to give them a way out. It seemed like Sasha's feelings about their parents was overshadowed by the romance with Lillian.

Overall, I enjoyed the found family story here and liked seeing Sasha step into their own identity after playing a role for so long.

Thank you to NetGalley, Plett, and Groundwood Books for the Digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Alexander, he’s been half of a world famous pop duo with his older brother for the past three years. Now his older brother is on trial and it’s Alexander's chance to finish his senior year of high school like a normal kid in a normal town. Since his parents are dead and he’s always performed wearing a helmet, Alexander is able to start a new life as Sasha, using they/them pronouns, and to make new friends with classmates Lillian, Quinn, and Cyprus, who are part of Wavelength, the band that is the focus of their lives. Lillian has just broken up with Emilia, Wavelength’s bass player, so their personal and artistic lives ar in flux. Though they are living a lie, Sasha manages to be as truthful as possible about their evolving queer identity as they explore something more than friendship with Lillian. Distinct, intriguing characters and the different views of the music industry are well explained. Loved Lillian’s songwriting! EARC from Edelweiss.

[Aster Greenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept coming back to this story once I put it down, because it was so sweet I wanted to live in the world more. There's a certain level of wish fulfillment in the idea of running away from your life and reinventing yourself into the out & proud nonbinary person you always wanted to be. Sasha's new life is filled with so much love, it's hard to take the threat of them being forced to return seriously, even if it haunts the narrative so thoroughly. There is never a moment where you can forget what Sasha is running from. But even as they begin to let more things slip and get more comfortable showing their face, you can't help but want this moment of anonymity to last forever.

Also, the voice of this book is beautiful. All of the descriptions are so poetic, it sounds like the characters are about to sing a love song. It's so incredibly earnest and fitting, I want to hear Lillian and Sasha talk to each other forever

[diamondinthepages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: Wavelength by Cale Plett
⭐️⭐️/5
ARC provided by NetGalley

I wanted to love this one—I really did. It had so many elements that usually hook me: queer representation (truly out the wazoo), a fun and inclusive concept, and a clear message that love is love. But somewhere along the way… it just didn’t click.

The format of the writing threw me off, and while I appreciate a book that aims to educate, this one felt a bit too heavy-handed for my personal taste. It started to feel more like a lesson than a story, and that made it tough to stay engaged.

That said, I am glad our main characters found their happy ending—and I know this book will absolutely resonate with the right reader. Unfortunately, that reader just wasn’t me.

#Wavelength #CalePlett #BookReview #QueerBooks #LoveIsLove #NetGalleyReview #LGBTQBooks

[HaileyAnne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sasha is one half of a famous pop duo- but they always hide their face on and off stage. When their brother gets caught in a scandal and the pressure to reveal their identity increasing, they decide to run away to a small town. There, they meet Lillian, who is still reeling from a recent break-up with her girlfriend and bandmate. When Sasha and Lillian meet, they feel drawn to each other. Lillian convinces Sasha to join her band, but will Sasha be able to keep their true identity a secret?

This was okay. I really liked the side characters and how supportive they were to each other, while still being honest. Lillian pissed me off most of the time. And it was a bit too insta-love for me. But it's still a decent book about gender identity, queer love and friendships, and finding your voice.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wavelength is a vibrant, heart-driven story that blends the high stakes of fame with the intimate moments of self-discovery. Cale Plett crafts a nuanced tale of identity, love, and belonging as teen pop star Sasha navigates the chaos of running away from fame and finding family and love in unexpected places.

The dynamic between Sasha and the local band, Wavelength, is electric full of tension, humor, and heart. The story tackles themes of gender identity, romance, and personal freedom with sensitivity and warmth, making it a refreshing and compelling read for young adult and queer audiences alike. The narrative is full of lively dialogue, immersive music culture, and relatable struggles that keep the pages turning.

A beautifully written, emotionally resonant story about courage, self-expression, and finding your voice in a noisy world.

[laurel! · Rating 4 out of 5]

if u are like a HARDCORE heartstopper fan this will be absolutely your jam no pun intended. if you ever wrote a terrible song while you were 13 and having your first gay crisis this will probably also be absolutely your jam. if you're transfem in specifically a pink skirt + crop top way you'll probably like this too.

ive been getting very into music in the past week or so so this book hit me at a good time & i had fun! i thought it was going to be just a quick romance, but this is actually a pretty long book with a very solid supporting cast (hence the heartstopper comparison). this book never punched me in the gut with emotion -- i wish it had been able to --- but i had fun nevertheless, worth my time

[RStanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and House of Anansi Press for the arc for my honest review.

Dual pov(1st person)/3 out of 5 stars

The story is told by Lillian and Sasha's pov. If you are looking for a cute read with lgbt characters who love music. This book is for you. I think I went into it with such expectations that I was let down with the pacing of the story. I think if it was about 50 to 75 pages shorter, the pacing would have been better.

I loved the ending and the beginning but I think I waited so long for one thing to happen that I just waited most of the book for it to happen.

I loved the premise of the book but I thought it was hard to keep my attention the whole time.

[Camile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

Wavelength is the kind of story that grabs you by the heart from page one and refuses to let go. It’s equal parts joyful, tender, and deeply affirming while capturing the experience of searching for your place in the world.

The story follows a teen pop star stepping out of the spotlight to rediscover who they are. What unfolds is a beautifully layered journey of identity, belonging, found family, and love — all set against the electric hum of music, messy friendships, yearning and the thrill of starting over.

Cale Plett writes with so much compassion for queer teens — their questions, their courage, their softness, and their joy.

A luminous debut novel.

[Yolanda | yolandaannmarie.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I was gifted a copy of this book by Anansi Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

One half of a teen pop duo goes on the run and enrolls themself into high school after being pressured by their management team to reveal their masked identity, all while their brother is on trial for statutory rape.

Despite the uncomfortable nature of how the industry treated Sasha as a young teen, and the unlikely scenario of such a “large donation” going undetected, I really loved the nonbinary coming-of-age and how the portrayal of their exploration was written with such honesty and authenticity.

[Jennifer ➰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me so happy!! It is filled to the brim with queer affirmations, and I really adore reading about a queer friend group. Community is so special. I loved these characters and the writing and plot was great— I mean Hannah Montana meets Heartstopper, are you kidding me?! I’m definitely going to pick up Plett’s next book. This was an incredible debut!

4.5 stars, thank you @houseofanansi for sending me a gifted copy. Wavelength is available now! 🎸

[Young Hee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a minute to get into the book, but once I did it was a fairly quick read up until around the final 10% where it started to drag again. I think I was at my teenage angst capacity at that point. The book itself was pretty long but the short chapters sped things along, and I felt it was well written which made it enjoyable to read.

This book was won in a Goodreads giveaway

[Ayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I knew that if you fell, I’d start missing you before you hit the ground.”

love being friends with the author of a book to scream “what the fuck” at them 🫶🏼🫶🏼

[Michael]

My conversation with Plett discussing the book here:
https://umfm.com/programming/broadcas...

[Shilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

a stunning human of a book chock full of music obsession, queer love, and gender euphoria. 💕

[Kaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this read. Have recommended to many, already!

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC provided by publisher: This book has great ensemble cast energy and queer coming-of-age vibes, but it didn’t totally land for me. The Heartstopper comparison fits for that reason, but I would say it’s less romance-heavy, and a bit more atmospheric. The universe is fun, and the cast feels real.
it was sooo hard to buy into the Big Bad villain plot, its an incredibly shallow idea of how the industry works. And the genderqueer main character, despite getting POV time, barely scratched the surface emotionally. We’re told what they look like more than what they feel, which made the whole transition arc weirdly hollow.

This would hit for a YA reader who starts a zine with their friends and keeps a half-broken amp in their bedroom.

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️: 3.25/5

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

This book is described as Heartstopper meets Hannah Montana - two things I love - so that immediately put this on my radar.

💫 My thoughts 💫

🎸 I enjoy stories featuring punk bands, so it was fun to read about the band Wavelength in this story

🎸 The charming cast of queer characters was great and I loved the found family element

🎸 Watching Sasha blossom over the course of the book and realise who they wanted to be and what they wanted out of life was rewarding

🎸 Some bits of dialogue did feel forced and heavy-handed though, which pulled me out of the story and I didn’t fully gel with the writing. It was a quick and entertaining read though overall

✨️ What to expect ✨️

🎵 Story centred around a band
🤫 Secret identity and double lives
🎙 Dual POV
🌟 Celebrity characters
🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ representation

💖 Thank you to Anansi Press & Groundwood Books for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

💌 Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at @jodierosereads