What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sound of You
What if the one person who sees you is the one the world won’t listen to?
Sixteen-year-old Owen Kelly is barely holding it together after his grandfather’s death. He’s shut down, tuned out, and hiding behind the pages of his sketchbook.
Until he meets Jun-ho Lee. Jun is Deaf, half-Korean, and new to Dublin. He doesn’t use words, but he understands Owen better than anyone.
But in a world full of judgment and expectation, their connection is under fire before it’s even begun. When Jun's family pressure closes in, staying silent isn’t an option anymore.
They’ll have to speak, in whatever language they can, or risk losing each other for good.
The Sound of You is a heartfelt queer YA romance about first love, resilience, and finding your voice when no one wants to listen. Perfect for fans of Heartstopper, I’ll Give You the Sun, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Sixteen-year-old Owen Kelly is barely holding it together after his grandfather’s death. He’s shut down, tuned out, and hiding behind the pages of his sketchbook.
Until he meets Jun-ho Lee. Jun is Deaf, half-Korean, and new to Dublin. He doesn’t use words, but he understands Owen better than anyone.
But in a world full of judgment and expectation, their connection is under fire before it’s even begun. When Jun's family pressure closes in, staying silent isn’t an option anymore.
They’ll have to speak, in whatever language they can, or risk losing each other for good.
The Sound of You is a heartfelt queer YA romance about first love, resilience, and finding your voice when no one wants to listen. Perfect for fans of Heartstopper, I’ll Give You the Sun, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 22, 2025
22 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Simon Doyle
7 books125 followersSimon Doyle (he/him) was born and raised in Ireland. He discovered that he could travel the world on a shoestring by reading books at a very young age. When he won a local poetry competition at the age of nine, it sparked a lifetime love of words. But he swears never to write poetry again.
His first novel release was Runaway Train, book 1 of the Runaway Bay series. The follow-up, Runaway Skies, released in January 2023.
He lives with a neurotic rescue dog, and Lucas, his human soulmate. They met in kindergarten. Where all good stories begin.
His first novel release was Runaway Train, book 1 of the Runaway Bay series. The follow-up, Runaway Skies, released in January 2023.
He lives with a neurotic rescue dog, and Lucas, his human soulmate. They met in kindergarten. Where all good stories begin.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 5, 2025
4 Stars
The Sound of You is a queer YA romance that intimately explores themes of grief, disability, culture, art, and unconditional love and acceptance, as the profound first-love shared between MCs Owen and Jun has ripple-effects that positively impact the very heart of the community that surrounds them.
This was a truly heartfelt reading experience and I appreciated the way Doyle handled the story, emotionally and tonally speaking. It managed to walk a steadfast line between too emotionally exhausting and too sweet and fluffy, which isn’t always the case when dealing with YA stories of similar themes.
The growing romance between artistic, grief-stricken Owen and half-Korean Jun, a deaf boy with his own familial and cultural challenges, was very heartwarming and tender in its rendering. But beyond their smile-inducing first-love romance, it was in the ensemble cast of characters and the emotionally engaging themes they represented that this story truly shined.
For me, the opening of the story was my absolute favourite part, as we followed Owen in the days and weeks after the loss of his beloved grandfather. The way his grief was handled was very moving and so intensely relatable in its telling, that I hold huge respect for what Doyle managed to capture in those quieter, more contemplative scenes, which served to endeared me deeply to MC Owen very early in the piece.
However, I was just as engaged with the rest of the story, too, especially once the boys became friends and their romantic feelings began to take flight, fully enjoying the larger arc involving Owen’s artistic expression and the eventual explorations of human communication and unique methods of connectivity we use in a shared diverse world.
As my second time reading a story by Irish author Simon Doyle, I can confidently say that I’ve enjoyed his characters, his themes, and his style of storytelling very much, at least from what I’ve seen and experienced thus far. I’m definitely keen to now backtrack so I can fill in missing gaps in his backlog, but I’m also super eager to see what he does next on his writing journey.
The Sound of You was a real pleasure to read.
***A special thanks to the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Sound of You is a queer YA romance that intimately explores themes of grief, disability, culture, art, and unconditional love and acceptance, as the profound first-love shared between MCs Owen and Jun has ripple-effects that positively impact the very heart of the community that surrounds them.
This was a truly heartfelt reading experience and I appreciated the way Doyle handled the story, emotionally and tonally speaking. It managed to walk a steadfast line between too emotionally exhausting and too sweet and fluffy, which isn’t always the case when dealing with YA stories of similar themes.
The growing romance between artistic, grief-stricken Owen and half-Korean Jun, a deaf boy with his own familial and cultural challenges, was very heartwarming and tender in its rendering. But beyond their smile-inducing first-love romance, it was in the ensemble cast of characters and the emotionally engaging themes they represented that this story truly shined.
For me, the opening of the story was my absolute favourite part, as we followed Owen in the days and weeks after the loss of his beloved grandfather. The way his grief was handled was very moving and so intensely relatable in its telling, that I hold huge respect for what Doyle managed to capture in those quieter, more contemplative scenes, which served to endeared me deeply to MC Owen very early in the piece.
However, I was just as engaged with the rest of the story, too, especially once the boys became friends and their romantic feelings began to take flight, fully enjoying the larger arc involving Owen’s artistic expression and the eventual explorations of human communication and unique methods of connectivity we use in a shared diverse world.
As my second time reading a story by Irish author Simon Doyle, I can confidently say that I’ve enjoyed his characters, his themes, and his style of storytelling very much, at least from what I’ve seen and experienced thus far. I’m definitely keen to now backtrack so I can fill in missing gaps in his backlog, but I’m also super eager to see what he does next on his writing journey.
The Sound of You was a real pleasure to read.
***A special thanks to the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2025
This was a very romantic book. The prose was gorgeous and I highlighted several passages simply because they are incredibly beautiful.
I loved the grief journey. Owen’s loss of his grandfather shadowed everything he did, and I really felt for him. The art project he did was so incredibly emotional and stunning, I wanted to hug him.
The romance with Jun was so intimate and stunning, I loved how they communicated with each other and that epic grand gesture of love and friendship at the end had tears rolling down my cheeks.
Very sweet and lovely,
I loved the grief journey. Owen’s loss of his grandfather shadowed everything he did, and I really felt for him. The art project he did was so incredibly emotional and stunning, I wanted to hug him.
The romance with Jun was so intimate and stunning, I loved how they communicated with each other and that epic grand gesture of love and friendship at the end had tears rolling down my cheeks.
Very sweet and lovely,
July 3, 2025
Wow. Never did I think that a YA novel could pack so much emotion and have such a profound impact on me. Aside from falling in love with the characters and their unique personalities, I genuinely learned some things about myself and life as a whole while reading this book. The incredibly profound writing was a cherry on top, bringing out tears of joy, sorrow, and laughter. I can only hope that Simon is working on a sequel because I want nothing more than to get to know these characters even better. I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone. In fact, I would almost consider it a book everyone should read at some point in their life. Definitely going down as one of the best books I have read this year.
June 15, 2025
The loss of romance
We’re very lucky to have such amazing authors who are writing intelligent LGBTQ+ YA at the moment, particularly in the MM genre. In the US there are people like Alex Sanchez and Brent Hartinger who write realistic gay male characters, never afraid to show us as flawed individuals. And in the UK we have people like William Hussey who write deep, emotionally rich stories of loss and belonging. And let’s not forgot the brilliant Simon James Green, whose light hearted youthful style captures the comedic awkwardness of growing up, as well as the struggles of living under Section 28. Amazingly intelligent authors who try to “write up” to their audiences and never talk down. So I thought I’d try this book, my first book by Irish author Simon Doyle, to see how he compares to some of the other YA writers out there.
The book opens shortly after the death of Owen’s grandfather. We follow Owen in the weeks after the funeral as he deals with the grief and the absence of his grandfather. Whilst out sketching one day he meets Jun-Ho, a South Korean kid who just happens to be deaf and who sparks Owen’s interest and slowly begins to draw him out of his grief.
The first thing I noticed when reading the start of this book was how clear the authors voice was. He seemed to have a beautifully descriptive style that managed to push the plot forward, avoiding its use as narrative padding. These descriptions captured each scene perfectly, creating a mood that reflected Owen’s view of the world. There was a real melancholy to the writing as we followed Owen through his daily routine in the wake of his grandfathers death. It showed how he struggled with the feelings of loss and the all consuming sadness that accompanies the grief of losing someone so close. Perceiving the world at a distance, almost detached. But when Jun-Ho enters his life, things started to shift for him. And at the same time, things also started to shift for me with this book, but not necessarily in the same way.
As an exploration of grief this book really hit its mark. Not just when dealing with the loss but also in showing how a person can feel separated from everyone. Their interaction with friends and family and the difficulty they have in returning to a normal life. However as a romance I struggled to feel the connection between the two male leads. I couldn’t feel the attraction between the two boys, despite the author insisting it was there. He really tries to write a romantic connection between the two of them but I just couldn’t feel it. In fact I felt more of a connection between Owen and his best friend Ryan than I did with Owen and Jun. Owen’s relationship with Ryan just dominated the page whenever the two of them were together. And that was such a shame as the book changed its main focus onto Owen’s growing feelings for Jun, making this more of a teen romance than a study of grief.
I also felt the quality of the writing started to slip a little too. Some of the writing just didn’t seem quite right, somewhat cringy in places. Like when Owen was biting his lip trying to stop himself from smiling the author wrote “…I was neither a cat nor from Cheshire.” Then we had phrases like “… every drop of blood I owned”. Some of the writing just didn’t feel right… a little too juvenile (does a person actually ‘own’ their blood?) Now I could be wrong, maybe the author intended his writing to sound like that, after all he is writing from a 16 year old’s point of view. But after such a strong start these types of phrases really stood out to me.
I think your enjoyment of this book will very much depend on how much Owen and Jun’s relationship resonates with you, and whether you buy in to it or not. For me I could not find the connection, so I did not find all those chapters of Owen swooning over Jun that engaging. I found them dull, actually. However the parts which dealt with Owen and his family’s grieving, and how they attempted to move on, were really interesting. Indeed all the family storylines were engaging. I particularly liked Owens growing relationship with Mick and how author dealt with Owen’s Mum trying to move on from Tommy’s death. In someways this would have been a stronger book without the romance, if Owen and Jun were just friends.
It is such a shame I didn’t gel with this book the way I’d hoped, but that’s mainly down to the main relationship. But that’s not to say others won’t like it, particularly if the main characters work for you, and you’re in the mood for some moody teenage pining. I’ll definitely check out more of this authors work, especially if they’re more like the first part of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We’re very lucky to have such amazing authors who are writing intelligent LGBTQ+ YA at the moment, particularly in the MM genre. In the US there are people like Alex Sanchez and Brent Hartinger who write realistic gay male characters, never afraid to show us as flawed individuals. And in the UK we have people like William Hussey who write deep, emotionally rich stories of loss and belonging. And let’s not forgot the brilliant Simon James Green, whose light hearted youthful style captures the comedic awkwardness of growing up, as well as the struggles of living under Section 28. Amazingly intelligent authors who try to “write up” to their audiences and never talk down. So I thought I’d try this book, my first book by Irish author Simon Doyle, to see how he compares to some of the other YA writers out there.
The book opens shortly after the death of Owen’s grandfather. We follow Owen in the weeks after the funeral as he deals with the grief and the absence of his grandfather. Whilst out sketching one day he meets Jun-Ho, a South Korean kid who just happens to be deaf and who sparks Owen’s interest and slowly begins to draw him out of his grief.
The first thing I noticed when reading the start of this book was how clear the authors voice was. He seemed to have a beautifully descriptive style that managed to push the plot forward, avoiding its use as narrative padding. These descriptions captured each scene perfectly, creating a mood that reflected Owen’s view of the world. There was a real melancholy to the writing as we followed Owen through his daily routine in the wake of his grandfathers death. It showed how he struggled with the feelings of loss and the all consuming sadness that accompanies the grief of losing someone so close. Perceiving the world at a distance, almost detached. But when Jun-Ho enters his life, things started to shift for him. And at the same time, things also started to shift for me with this book, but not necessarily in the same way.
As an exploration of grief this book really hit its mark. Not just when dealing with the loss but also in showing how a person can feel separated from everyone. Their interaction with friends and family and the difficulty they have in returning to a normal life. However as a romance I struggled to feel the connection between the two male leads. I couldn’t feel the attraction between the two boys, despite the author insisting it was there. He really tries to write a romantic connection between the two of them but I just couldn’t feel it. In fact I felt more of a connection between Owen and his best friend Ryan than I did with Owen and Jun. Owen’s relationship with Ryan just dominated the page whenever the two of them were together. And that was such a shame as the book changed its main focus onto Owen’s growing feelings for Jun, making this more of a teen romance than a study of grief.
I also felt the quality of the writing started to slip a little too. Some of the writing just didn’t seem quite right, somewhat cringy in places. Like when Owen was biting his lip trying to stop himself from smiling the author wrote “…I was neither a cat nor from Cheshire.” Then we had phrases like “… every drop of blood I owned”. Some of the writing just didn’t feel right… a little too juvenile (does a person actually ‘own’ their blood?) Now I could be wrong, maybe the author intended his writing to sound like that, after all he is writing from a 16 year old’s point of view. But after such a strong start these types of phrases really stood out to me.
I think your enjoyment of this book will very much depend on how much Owen and Jun’s relationship resonates with you, and whether you buy in to it or not. For me I could not find the connection, so I did not find all those chapters of Owen swooning over Jun that engaging. I found them dull, actually. However the parts which dealt with Owen and his family’s grieving, and how they attempted to move on, were really interesting. Indeed all the family storylines were engaging. I particularly liked Owens growing relationship with Mick and how author dealt with Owen’s Mum trying to move on from Tommy’s death. In someways this would have been a stronger book without the romance, if Owen and Jun were just friends.
It is such a shame I didn’t gel with this book the way I’d hoped, but that’s mainly down to the main relationship. But that’s not to say others won’t like it, particularly if the main characters work for you, and you’re in the mood for some moody teenage pining. I’ll definitely check out more of this authors work, especially if they’re more like the first part of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2025
I received an e-ARC and am giving my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Doyle for this opportunity!!
It’s no secret that ‘This Isn’t a Vampire Story’ was an arguably life changing read for me, so I was ecstatic for this novel. I’m hard of hearing, should have been using a hearing aide since I was a child but it never happened. A queer love story with a deaf love interest is something I’ve always loved the idea of, and have read at least one other that was a manga. This completely exceeded expectations.
I know ASL, not ISL, so can’t personally speak to the accuracy of the signs but they seemed to be correct based off what I do know. The ways that Owen immediately jumped into researching ISL, going to a class all for a boy he’d barely met in passing a couple of times? It was so sweet and caring, despite having just lost his grandfather and feeling a bit lost in life. He still went out of his way to learn how to communicate with Jun, even if it took a while.
Speaking of Jun, I adored how he was written. The nuances of his family dynamics, how rough it is and how he felt the need to isolate himself from Owen. The pressure that asian families put on their children was incredibly written. Owen feeling so certain he can change Jun’s father’s mind, not having grown up with a parental figure like him, while Jun has grown up with him and knows how impossible that would be and struggling to convey that.
I adored Ryan. Loved how his and Owen’s friendship was able to continue on as normal even though Owen once held feelings for him. Their friendship still being just as silly, jokes of them being boyfriends, with no awkwardness. It was so endearing and sweet, each scene Ryan was in made me smile.
This was a beautifully sweet book, with incredible commentary on the social divides with hearing and the d/Deaf, as well as differences with asian family expectations. It helped me to feel more connected to the literary world, seeing someone on page similar to me. This was truly lovely.
It’s no secret that ‘This Isn’t a Vampire Story’ was an arguably life changing read for me, so I was ecstatic for this novel. I’m hard of hearing, should have been using a hearing aide since I was a child but it never happened. A queer love story with a deaf love interest is something I’ve always loved the idea of, and have read at least one other that was a manga. This completely exceeded expectations.
I know ASL, not ISL, so can’t personally speak to the accuracy of the signs but they seemed to be correct based off what I do know. The ways that Owen immediately jumped into researching ISL, going to a class all for a boy he’d barely met in passing a couple of times? It was so sweet and caring, despite having just lost his grandfather and feeling a bit lost in life. He still went out of his way to learn how to communicate with Jun, even if it took a while.
Speaking of Jun, I adored how he was written. The nuances of his family dynamics, how rough it is and how he felt the need to isolate himself from Owen. The pressure that asian families put on their children was incredibly written. Owen feeling so certain he can change Jun’s father’s mind, not having grown up with a parental figure like him, while Jun has grown up with him and knows how impossible that would be and struggling to convey that.
I adored Ryan. Loved how his and Owen’s friendship was able to continue on as normal even though Owen once held feelings for him. Their friendship still being just as silly, jokes of them being boyfriends, with no awkwardness. It was so endearing and sweet, each scene Ryan was in made me smile.
This was a beautifully sweet book, with incredible commentary on the social divides with hearing and the d/Deaf, as well as differences with asian family expectations. It helped me to feel more connected to the literary world, seeing someone on page similar to me. This was truly lovely.
June 6, 2025
||4.25🌟||
I would read it again. I would absolutely read it again. If only just feel a pinch of what I felt reading those last chapters, I would absolutely fucking read it again.
This book had layers! Layers of beauty, emotion, grief, love, art, silence, and language. It had me constantly choked up and inspired, sometimes at the same time. I was highlighting lines, rereading passages, just sitting with my heart full.
It’s a gorgeous portrayal of yearning, of a deeper connection, of love in many forms. The way Irish Sign Language and Korean Sign Language are woven into the story.. the way culture is portrayed not just through words, but through food, gestures, silence, it’s stunning. Quietly radical and incredibly moving.
Both main characters had such emotional depth, it felt like they were reaching out of the page and touching something raw in me. Their experiences, their communication, their pain and joy. it all became personal. Their depth was my undoing.
The pacing? Absolutely perfect. Even in its slowest moments, the story stayed strong. I was completely hooked, laughing, swooning, cheesing like an idiot, desperate to know what would happen next. There were no dull moments, only rich ones.
Simon Doyle was clearly exploring a different kind of communication, a communication in silence, in presence, in love. And he portrayed it with such care and tenderness that I was left in awe. The strength and clarity of connection between people who face communication barriers, it was breathtaking.
This book wasn’t just good. It was good GOOD. Truly special. I already want to read it again.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
I would read it again. I would absolutely read it again. If only just feel a pinch of what I felt reading those last chapters, I would absolutely fucking read it again.
This book had layers! Layers of beauty, emotion, grief, love, art, silence, and language. It had me constantly choked up and inspired, sometimes at the same time. I was highlighting lines, rereading passages, just sitting with my heart full.
It’s a gorgeous portrayal of yearning, of a deeper connection, of love in many forms. The way Irish Sign Language and Korean Sign Language are woven into the story.. the way culture is portrayed not just through words, but through food, gestures, silence, it’s stunning. Quietly radical and incredibly moving.
Both main characters had such emotional depth, it felt like they were reaching out of the page and touching something raw in me. Their experiences, their communication, their pain and joy. it all became personal. Their depth was my undoing.
The pacing? Absolutely perfect. Even in its slowest moments, the story stayed strong. I was completely hooked, laughing, swooning, cheesing like an idiot, desperate to know what would happen next. There were no dull moments, only rich ones.
Simon Doyle was clearly exploring a different kind of communication, a communication in silence, in presence, in love. And he portrayed it with such care and tenderness that I was left in awe. The strength and clarity of connection between people who face communication barriers, it was breathtaking.
This book wasn’t just good. It was good GOOD. Truly special. I already want to read it again.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Read
July 8, 2025Thank you to NetGalley and SD Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review
This was just too precious! The story picks up so fast and we're quickly introduced to our protagonist, his best friend, and his grieving family after the loss of his grandfather.
These characters felt real and heartfelt, and I really believed in their struggles at school or with their relationships. I was so happy for our boys falling love that I was smiling for multiple chapters at a time, and didn't want their story to end.
It was also great to see how a few frequently asked questions were answered through the book, my pet peeve one being "why don't all deaf people use the same sign language?"
This was just too precious! The story picks up so fast and we're quickly introduced to our protagonist, his best friend, and his grieving family after the loss of his grandfather.
These characters felt real and heartfelt, and I really believed in their struggles at school or with their relationships. I was so happy for our boys falling love that I was smiling for multiple chapters at a time, and didn't want their story to end.
It was also great to see how a few frequently asked questions were answered through the book, my pet peeve one being "why don't all deaf people use the same sign language?"
July 6, 2025
An absolute must-read!!
I started this book in the evening after finishing another book. I read the first chapter—and it made me so sad I had to put the book down for a full 24 hours before I could pick it back up again. And I live for the emotional pain, hurt/comfort trope!!
That being said, once I picked it back up the next day, I didn't want to stop reading! Straight from the start, I absolutely adored Owen and Ryan's friendship—Owen is mourning the loss of a family member, and I adored how Ryan was there for him. This continues throughout the book, even as life moves on for both of them, with school work and friends and dating, and I was so happy Owen had Ryan in his life! There are other friends throughout the story too, whom I absolutely adored, but Ryan stood out, being the oldest friend and also the first one that we meet early on in this story!
Whilst trying to cope with his grief through art, Owen meets Jun-ho, a half Irish half Korean boy, in the park. He quickly discovers Jun is Deaf, and a big focus of the story is the two of them communicating in ways that most people wouldn't even think about: body language, texts, lip reading, and of course through sign language, which Owen starts to learn. It was such a beautiful story line; I especially loved a moment where Owen noted that they'd had a whole conversation without speaking or signing, and that communication was flowing more naturally between them now than when they first met 🥰
The romance plot line was exquisite—there's so much yearning, so many beautiful moments, talk of butterflies and feeling content just sitting and holding each other and trading kisses and agghshjd it was just such a gorgeous portrayal of young love!! 💖 I felt absolutely giddy reading their story and remembering that feeling of first falling for someone as a teenager, and I was awe-struck and teary-eyed reading about what they'd do to stay together, even when things try to keep them apart (I won't spoil the story, but things got really tense there for a while and I was legit scared of how few pages there were left to reach a resolution!!!).
The last thing I want to draw attention to is the use of art throughout this story. I loved how it was always there, in the background or right front and centre. I could feel Owen's feelings through his drawings and the way he used art to express his grief and his love and, most of all, his desire to help Jun with his family issues. It was a beautiful reminder that so much of life is art and expression, and I loved that! 💖
To sum up, The Sound of You is a beautiful YA story, with themes of friendship and love, grief and communication, artistic expression and determination, and I one hundred percent recommend this book, without reservation, to absolutely everyone!! Doyle's writing is beautiful and funny, with banter and heartfelt moments, and characters that feel real and relatable, in a setting where it's easy to imagine the events unfolding, and I've adored every minute I've gotten to spend in this world!
Without a doubt, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 from me, and I can't wait to own and reread this book!
I want to thank the author, Simon Doyle, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I absolutely loved this story, and I can't wait to read anything else you might write in the future! 😁
I started this book in the evening after finishing another book. I read the first chapter—and it made me so sad I had to put the book down for a full 24 hours before I could pick it back up again. And I live for the emotional pain, hurt/comfort trope!!
That being said, once I picked it back up the next day, I didn't want to stop reading! Straight from the start, I absolutely adored Owen and Ryan's friendship—Owen is mourning the loss of a family member, and I adored how Ryan was there for him. This continues throughout the book, even as life moves on for both of them, with school work and friends and dating, and I was so happy Owen had Ryan in his life! There are other friends throughout the story too, whom I absolutely adored, but Ryan stood out, being the oldest friend and also the first one that we meet early on in this story!
Whilst trying to cope with his grief through art, Owen meets Jun-ho, a half Irish half Korean boy, in the park. He quickly discovers Jun is Deaf, and a big focus of the story is the two of them communicating in ways that most people wouldn't even think about: body language, texts, lip reading, and of course through sign language, which Owen starts to learn. It was such a beautiful story line; I especially loved a moment where Owen noted that they'd had a whole conversation without speaking or signing, and that communication was flowing more naturally between them now than when they first met 🥰
The romance plot line was exquisite—there's so much yearning, so many beautiful moments, talk of butterflies and feeling content just sitting and holding each other and trading kisses and agghshjd it was just such a gorgeous portrayal of young love!! 💖 I felt absolutely giddy reading their story and remembering that feeling of first falling for someone as a teenager, and I was awe-struck and teary-eyed reading about what they'd do to stay together, even when things try to keep them apart (I won't spoil the story, but things got really tense there for a while and I was legit scared of how few pages there were left to reach a resolution!!!).
The last thing I want to draw attention to is the use of art throughout this story. I loved how it was always there, in the background or right front and centre. I could feel Owen's feelings through his drawings and the way he used art to express his grief and his love and, most of all, his desire to help Jun with his family issues. It was a beautiful reminder that so much of life is art and expression, and I loved that! 💖
To sum up, The Sound of You is a beautiful YA story, with themes of friendship and love, grief and communication, artistic expression and determination, and I one hundred percent recommend this book, without reservation, to absolutely everyone!! Doyle's writing is beautiful and funny, with banter and heartfelt moments, and characters that feel real and relatable, in a setting where it's easy to imagine the events unfolding, and I've adored every minute I've gotten to spend in this world!
Without a doubt, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 from me, and I can't wait to own and reread this book!
I want to thank the author, Simon Doyle, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I absolutely loved this story, and I can't wait to read anything else you might write in the future! 😁
August 4, 2025
The presence of an absence
There is a drawing exercise in which students are presented with a complicated arrangement of objects against a black background – I've used a higgledy-piggledy pile of stools, for example. It appears to be challenging at first, but the instruction is not to draw the objects at all: just to draw the spaces in between – just the black background, and forget about the objects themselves. It's absorbing, trying to get the shapes of the holes just right, and it can be quite surprising for the student to stand back from their drawing for a moment, and look at what they have drawn. While all the attention has been given to the background, it is quite surprising to see that it is the stools that appear on the paper, and the unnerving complexity of the interlocked legs and seats has been captured as if by accident. It just requires a shift of attention.
I like Simon Doyle's writing so much. It bounces across the page with an energy that is hard to resist, with the occasional slightly odd phrase, a viewpoint that is all his own, a take on life that makes me laugh out loud at times (a rarity), and always a kind of thoughtfulness that makes me pause. The Sound of You is up there with the best.
The plot itself follows a fairly conventional path, but it is not the real strength of this novel; that lies in the enjoyment of its many subtleties that gently expand the world of perception for the reader. Sudden death sets it in motion. Owen's Grandad Tommy drops dead in front of him. But in Chapter 37 he is still there. Like the drawing exercise, his absence is an ever-present shape, and in a similar way, Owen's half-Korean boyfriend is deaf. So the paradoxical title is set up, and we are alerted to the sound of Jun and Jun's sensitivity to the sound of Owen. Jun's presence has a sound, and he says of Owen, 'I feel you. I can feel the sound of you.' That alerted me to how the other characters sound, or rather the way their presence feels. Jun's world of sound is felt, and its richness comes to be shared by Owen, but to his materialistic father, it is merely an emptiness that has to be fixed.
I don't want to spoil the ending which is skilfully and movingly built up to. There are two clear alternatives for it, and neither is unexpected. The one Simon Doyle chooses works well, but I can't help wondering whether its alternative might have provided some interesting opportunities for developing even further the theme of The Sound of You.
There is a drawing exercise in which students are presented with a complicated arrangement of objects against a black background – I've used a higgledy-piggledy pile of stools, for example. It appears to be challenging at first, but the instruction is not to draw the objects at all: just to draw the spaces in between – just the black background, and forget about the objects themselves. It's absorbing, trying to get the shapes of the holes just right, and it can be quite surprising for the student to stand back from their drawing for a moment, and look at what they have drawn. While all the attention has been given to the background, it is quite surprising to see that it is the stools that appear on the paper, and the unnerving complexity of the interlocked legs and seats has been captured as if by accident. It just requires a shift of attention.
I like Simon Doyle's writing so much. It bounces across the page with an energy that is hard to resist, with the occasional slightly odd phrase, a viewpoint that is all his own, a take on life that makes me laugh out loud at times (a rarity), and always a kind of thoughtfulness that makes me pause. The Sound of You is up there with the best.
The plot itself follows a fairly conventional path, but it is not the real strength of this novel; that lies in the enjoyment of its many subtleties that gently expand the world of perception for the reader. Sudden death sets it in motion. Owen's Grandad Tommy drops dead in front of him. But in Chapter 37 he is still there. Like the drawing exercise, his absence is an ever-present shape, and in a similar way, Owen's half-Korean boyfriend is deaf. So the paradoxical title is set up, and we are alerted to the sound of Jun and Jun's sensitivity to the sound of Owen. Jun's presence has a sound, and he says of Owen, 'I feel you. I can feel the sound of you.' That alerted me to how the other characters sound, or rather the way their presence feels. Jun's world of sound is felt, and its richness comes to be shared by Owen, but to his materialistic father, it is merely an emptiness that has to be fixed.
I don't want to spoil the ending which is skilfully and movingly built up to. There are two clear alternatives for it, and neither is unexpected. The one Simon Doyle chooses works well, but I can't help wondering whether its alternative might have provided some interesting opportunities for developing even further the theme of The Sound of You.
July 4, 2025
The Sound of You is a queer YA romance about two teenage boys. Owen Kelly is grieving the loss of his beloved grandfather who inspired his own love for art. He has lost his inspiration until he randomly meets Jun-ho Lee. Jun is a deaf, half-Korean teenager who has recently moved to Dunlin with his Irish mother, and he is able to draw out Owen from his slump. But just as things begin to look up, Jun’s own complicated situation threatens to pull them both under.
I have now read three of Simon Doyle’s books, and so far it has been three for three with a signature thread of melancholy, just in varying degrees of intensity. Here, the book starts off with just this blanket of grief as Owen deals with his grandfather’s death and the sense of imbalance and loss that had tainted his art, his interactions with his family, and his own thoughts. But as the story moves forward, it does get brighter and more hopeful, culminating in what I can only describe as a quintessential YA storybook ending.
I have a soft spot for contemplative protagonists, and Owen certainly fits the bill. I appreciated his self-reflection and how thoughtfully the book navigates his emotional landscape. I also thought it was an interesting and meaningful choice to portray Jun as both deaf and mixed-race. I’m not part of the Deaf community, so I found that perspective particularly eye-opening—and much more informative than I expected from a YA romance. While I’m not Korean, I am Asian, and I recognized many of the cultural values woven into the story.
As for the romance, I enjoyed the slow burn and gradual buildup, though I didn’t quite feel the spark between them at first. That said, their relationship becomes more emotionally resonant as the story progresses. And the standout character, without a doubt, was Ryan—Owen’s best friend, ultimate hype man, and adorable ally who steals every scene he’s in.
The Sound of You is a tender and quietly moving YA romance about grief, identity, and connection, perfect for readers who enjoy introspective stories with soft queer romance and strong friendships.
*Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of the book!
I have now read three of Simon Doyle’s books, and so far it has been three for three with a signature thread of melancholy, just in varying degrees of intensity. Here, the book starts off with just this blanket of grief as Owen deals with his grandfather’s death and the sense of imbalance and loss that had tainted his art, his interactions with his family, and his own thoughts. But as the story moves forward, it does get brighter and more hopeful, culminating in what I can only describe as a quintessential YA storybook ending.
I have a soft spot for contemplative protagonists, and Owen certainly fits the bill. I appreciated his self-reflection and how thoughtfully the book navigates his emotional landscape. I also thought it was an interesting and meaningful choice to portray Jun as both deaf and mixed-race. I’m not part of the Deaf community, so I found that perspective particularly eye-opening—and much more informative than I expected from a YA romance. While I’m not Korean, I am Asian, and I recognized many of the cultural values woven into the story.
As for the romance, I enjoyed the slow burn and gradual buildup, though I didn’t quite feel the spark between them at first. That said, their relationship becomes more emotionally resonant as the story progresses. And the standout character, without a doubt, was Ryan—Owen’s best friend, ultimate hype man, and adorable ally who steals every scene he’s in.
The Sound of You is a tender and quietly moving YA romance about grief, identity, and connection, perfect for readers who enjoy introspective stories with soft queer romance and strong friendships.
*Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of the book!
September 10, 2025
What I liked: The pace of the novel. Things didn’t happen too fast. I found myself covering the ends of certain chapters because I didn’t want to read ahead “accidentally” to see what happens. Especially chapter 20!
Yes, it’s a “cute meet,” and sometimes people say that derisively, but here it works nicely, again, I think, by it not progressing too fast.
Character development is always important, and I especially like what Mr. Doyle did with Jun. He seemed very reserved, a traditional Korean boy at first, but then begins to find his voice, so to speak, in dealing with his father. I liked the way Owen encouraged him without pushing him.
I also liked the way Owen worked his school art project into his very ambitious interactive exhibit at the community center. I also liked the way you built up tension by not revealing many details of what Owen had in mind too early.
What I didn’t like: not much, really. Well, the cover illustration. I thought that was awful. (And no, nothing here about how to judge books.)
Also, I’m not sure why the exhibit had its desired effect. I know Doyle made Jun’s father inscrutable (on purpose, I’m sure), but we were never given any hint as to why the exhibit just might work or what effect it had on him. It just went from “not working” to “worked!” in just one line of text: “Then he signed, I can stay.” Rather anticlimactic, I think.
I would have liked to see Owen’s friend Ryan play just a bit larger role. He’s a really nice straight boy who’s not afraid, and even proud, to support the LGBTQ community, and that’s unusual. I don’t see much character development in him, and I would have liked to see him perhaps be a bigger influence in Owen’s exhibit.
Yes, it’s a “cute meet,” and sometimes people say that derisively, but here it works nicely, again, I think, by it not progressing too fast.
Character development is always important, and I especially like what Mr. Doyle did with Jun. He seemed very reserved, a traditional Korean boy at first, but then begins to find his voice, so to speak, in dealing with his father. I liked the way Owen encouraged him without pushing him.
I also liked the way Owen worked his school art project into his very ambitious interactive exhibit at the community center. I also liked the way you built up tension by not revealing many details of what Owen had in mind too early.
What I didn’t like: not much, really. Well, the cover illustration. I thought that was awful. (And no, nothing here about how to judge books.)
Also, I’m not sure why the exhibit had its desired effect. I know Doyle made Jun’s father inscrutable (on purpose, I’m sure), but we were never given any hint as to why the exhibit just might work or what effect it had on him. It just went from “not working” to “worked!” in just one line of text: “Then he signed, I can stay.” Rather anticlimactic, I think.
I would have liked to see Owen’s friend Ryan play just a bit larger role. He’s a really nice straight boy who’s not afraid, and even proud, to support the LGBTQ community, and that’s unusual. I don’t see much character development in him, and I would have liked to see him perhaps be a bigger influence in Owen’s exhibit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2025
I requested and received an eARC of
The Sound of You
by Simon Doyle via NetGalley. After sixteen-year-old Owen Kelly loses his grandfather, he finds himself overcome with grief, only able to make sense of the world within the confines of his sketchbook. When Deaf teenager Jun-ho Lee crashes into Owen's life, his whole world shifts. Jun-ho is observant, beautiful and brings peace to Owen’s life. As the boys grow closer, Jun introduces Owen to an entirely new way of communicating.
What a terribly sweet story. The novel opens with the death of Owen’s grandfather, so grief plays a large role in the story. Owen deals with so many big, complicated feelings that they feel overwhelming. They are all handed with compassion and his journey toward healing is every bit as moving as the romance that develops between Owen and Jun-ho. Doyle knows how to capture teenage angst and the pangs of first love which is apparent in the tenderness he imbues in Owen and Jun’s relationship.
Ryan, Owen’s best friend, is a scene-stealing character. His presence often injected humor into the story and the way Doyle writes about his friendship with Owen is wonderful. I’m not an expert on the Deaf community, but I do think representation is very important, and I think that this aspect of Jun-ho’s character was handled with sensitivity. I think The Sound of You makes very good points about allyship and recognizing that not everyone experiences the world in the same way.
What a terribly sweet story. The novel opens with the death of Owen’s grandfather, so grief plays a large role in the story. Owen deals with so many big, complicated feelings that they feel overwhelming. They are all handed with compassion and his journey toward healing is every bit as moving as the romance that develops between Owen and Jun-ho. Doyle knows how to capture teenage angst and the pangs of first love which is apparent in the tenderness he imbues in Owen and Jun’s relationship.
Ryan, Owen’s best friend, is a scene-stealing character. His presence often injected humor into the story and the way Doyle writes about his friendship with Owen is wonderful. I’m not an expert on the Deaf community, but I do think representation is very important, and I think that this aspect of Jun-ho’s character was handled with sensitivity. I think The Sound of You makes very good points about allyship and recognizing that not everyone experiences the world in the same way.
June 9, 2025
Thank you SD Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I absolutely loved this story! Owen has just lost someone he loved dearly. And he’s struggling to navigate the world without them. Then he bumps into Jun-Ho, and though he doesn’t speak to Owen on their first encounter, Owen can’t get him out of his head. To his surprise and delight they run into each other the next day, it’s then that Owen learns Jun is Deaf. He grew up in Korea and recently moved to Ireland with his mom who’s Irish. Jun knows ISL and KSL and he can also read lips. Which is lucky for Owen. But he decides he’s going to learn ISL and it helps but he also learns that he can communicate with Jun even without it. The two get each other and the more time they spend together the more Owen falls for him. But does Jun like guys? And Jun’s got some complicated family dynamics. Will the two fall for each other? Or will life get in the way? I loved the depiction of communication and sound in this story! And how hearing can happen in different forms and can be unique to us all! I enjoyed the slow burn romance between Owen and Jun and absolutely adored their friends and families! Especially Ryan and Ella! I also loved the exploration of grief and how Owen depicted it with his art! Simon Doyle’s The Sound Of You is a beautifully told story of love, grief, and deep understanding and communication! Funny, queer, heartwarming, and will have you feeling all the feels! Also had me crying at times! Highly recommend!!
July 13, 2025
The Sound of You by Simon Doyle
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 out of 5 stars)
This one quietly crept into my heart.
The Sound of You is a beautifully written YA queer romance that takes you through grief, healing, and unexpected connection. We follow sixteen-year-old Owen, who’s still reeling from the loss of his grandfather — the one person who really understood him. Life feels a bit muted for Owen… until a random encounter with Jun-ho, a Deaf, Korean-Irish student, shifts everything.
What I loved most? It’s not loud or dramatic. There’s no over-the-top spice, and the drama is minimal — but that’s exactly why it works. It’s gentle, emotional, and real. Watching Owen slowly learn ISL (Irish Sign Language) and step into Jun’s world felt so natural. Their connection builds through quiet moments, glances, and little gestures — and it felt authentic.
This isn’t just a love story. It’s a story about learning to listen, even when there are no words. About processing grief, discovering joy again, and learning to connect in new ways. Some parts made me smile like an idiot. Others? Hit right in the feels.
And yes, I actually laughed out loud more than once. The humor is soft and sweet, and the writing just flows — like you’re slipping into someone else’s memories.
Final thoughts:
If you’re looking for something heartwarming, inclusive, and refreshingly low on the drama — The Sound of You is a wonderful choice. A sweet slow-burn romance with a whole lot of depth. 4.5 stars from me, and definitely one I’d recommend to anyone who wants a story that speaks through silence.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 out of 5 stars)
This one quietly crept into my heart.
The Sound of You is a beautifully written YA queer romance that takes you through grief, healing, and unexpected connection. We follow sixteen-year-old Owen, who’s still reeling from the loss of his grandfather — the one person who really understood him. Life feels a bit muted for Owen… until a random encounter with Jun-ho, a Deaf, Korean-Irish student, shifts everything.
What I loved most? It’s not loud or dramatic. There’s no over-the-top spice, and the drama is minimal — but that’s exactly why it works. It’s gentle, emotional, and real. Watching Owen slowly learn ISL (Irish Sign Language) and step into Jun’s world felt so natural. Their connection builds through quiet moments, glances, and little gestures — and it felt authentic.
This isn’t just a love story. It’s a story about learning to listen, even when there are no words. About processing grief, discovering joy again, and learning to connect in new ways. Some parts made me smile like an idiot. Others? Hit right in the feels.
And yes, I actually laughed out loud more than once. The humor is soft and sweet, and the writing just flows — like you’re slipping into someone else’s memories.
Final thoughts:
If you’re looking for something heartwarming, inclusive, and refreshingly low on the drama — The Sound of You is a wonderful choice. A sweet slow-burn romance with a whole lot of depth. 4.5 stars from me, and definitely one I’d recommend to anyone who wants a story that speaks through silence.
June 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and SD Press for a complimentary copy of The Sound of You by Simon Doyle.
This was a delightful read! The Sound of You has lots of good messaging surrounding grief of a loved one and finding yourself in the world. I thought the author had written both of these subjects beautifully. It shows that moving on doesn’t mean forgetting and that silence can truly be the loudest as we speak with more than just our words.
I loved all of the characters in The Sound of You, the main relationship between Owen and Jun was very wholesome, I found so many of their interactions to be so cute that I couldn’t help but coo and laugh with them. Another aspect that I really enjoyed about this book was the found family, the friendships and relationships in this book were lovely. It was nice to see that all of them cared and loved one another, it was even nicer to see them all come together! I’m very pleased with the friendships/relationships, I’m happy that the characters are happy, I’m glad many of them have found their special person in the world!
Overall this was a lovely book with great messaging! The Sound of You has a good mix of fluff and angst moments that I enjoyed. The relationships both romantic and platonic are solid in here! I’ll definitely be reading this authors other books Snow Boys and Runaway Train soon! As a side note the mention of Ao3 caught me off guard but it was so funny!
This was a delightful read! The Sound of You has lots of good messaging surrounding grief of a loved one and finding yourself in the world. I thought the author had written both of these subjects beautifully. It shows that moving on doesn’t mean forgetting and that silence can truly be the loudest as we speak with more than just our words.
I loved all of the characters in The Sound of You, the main relationship between Owen and Jun was very wholesome, I found so many of their interactions to be so cute that I couldn’t help but coo and laugh with them. Another aspect that I really enjoyed about this book was the found family, the friendships and relationships in this book were lovely. It was nice to see that all of them cared and loved one another, it was even nicer to see them all come together! I’m very pleased with the friendships/relationships, I’m happy that the characters are happy, I’m glad many of them have found their special person in the world!
Overall this was a lovely book with great messaging! The Sound of You has a good mix of fluff and angst moments that I enjoyed. The relationships both romantic and platonic are solid in here! I’ll definitely be reading this authors other books Snow Boys and Runaway Train soon! As a side note the mention of Ao3 caught me off guard but it was so funny!
July 17, 2025
Thanks Netgalley for this arc
Quiet, powerful, and beautifully emotional.
The Sound of You absolutely stole my heart. This is the kind of book that creeps up on you softly, then hits you with all the feels when you least expect it. Owen Kelly is such a relatable, raw character — dealing with grief, loneliness, and the sense of not being seen. I connected with him instantly.
But then comes Jun-ho Lee — quiet, observant, and Deaf — and everything changes. Their connection is so tender and meaningful, built on gestures, glances, and trust. I loved how their relationship blossomed in the quiet, in the spaces where words sometimes fall short. The representation here is powerful and so needed.
This story isn’t just a romance — it’s about identity, communication, and learning how to be heard in a world that often ignores the quiet voices. It's slow-burn, it's queer, it's emotional, and it's just real. Think Heartstopper meets I’ll Give You the Sun with a dash of The Perks of Being a Wallflower — yes, it's that good.
If you're looking for a book that will make you cry, smile, and maybe believe in a quiet kind of miracle, The Sound of You is it.
Quiet, powerful, and beautifully emotional.
The Sound of You absolutely stole my heart. This is the kind of book that creeps up on you softly, then hits you with all the feels when you least expect it. Owen Kelly is such a relatable, raw character — dealing with grief, loneliness, and the sense of not being seen. I connected with him instantly.
But then comes Jun-ho Lee — quiet, observant, and Deaf — and everything changes. Their connection is so tender and meaningful, built on gestures, glances, and trust. I loved how their relationship blossomed in the quiet, in the spaces where words sometimes fall short. The representation here is powerful and so needed.
This story isn’t just a romance — it’s about identity, communication, and learning how to be heard in a world that often ignores the quiet voices. It's slow-burn, it's queer, it's emotional, and it's just real. Think Heartstopper meets I’ll Give You the Sun with a dash of The Perks of Being a Wallflower — yes, it's that good.
If you're looking for a book that will make you cry, smile, and maybe believe in a quiet kind of miracle, The Sound of You is it.
July 20, 2025
Everything about this story is so unbelievably beautiful… I am in love with the way Simon Doyle writes. He tells us a story of grief and memory, of fear and courage, of learning to listen to yourself, of community and found family, of love and connection… this book touched me deeply.
Owen has lost someone very precious and he and his family are learning to navigate that when he meets Jun who is Deaf and new to Dublin but building a community… it’s honestly so bright, they way first love blooms, how they step forward and withdraw and step forward bravely again. I adored all of the other characters too.. Ryan and Mia and Ella and Pauline and Sean and Eileen and Mick and Owen’s Mom and Callum and even Tommy.
Taking us on a journey ranging from funny to poignant to touching to triumph, Simon Doyle writes a tale of loss, love and overcoming forces that could keep them apart in a truly moving way. This is probably the first YA I’ve read and I found it to unbelievably well developed tacking mature coming of age themes and topics which even adults grapple hard with in such a sensitive manner.
Highly recommend reading!
Owen has lost someone very precious and he and his family are learning to navigate that when he meets Jun who is Deaf and new to Dublin but building a community… it’s honestly so bright, they way first love blooms, how they step forward and withdraw and step forward bravely again. I adored all of the other characters too.. Ryan and Mia and Ella and Pauline and Sean and Eileen and Mick and Owen’s Mom and Callum and even Tommy.
Taking us on a journey ranging from funny to poignant to touching to triumph, Simon Doyle writes a tale of loss, love and overcoming forces that could keep them apart in a truly moving way. This is probably the first YA I’ve read and I found it to unbelievably well developed tacking mature coming of age themes and topics which even adults grapple hard with in such a sensitive manner.
Highly recommend reading!
August 5, 2025
Wow! I’m absolutely speechless about this book The Sound of You. As someone that is VERY involved with the deaf community they truly struggle with so much more than people understand. They’re just like everyone else the only difference is they hear in a different way than everyone else that isn’t deaf. I truly support all of this book. It brought me to tears many times because it truly displayed a lot of areas where those that are deaf truly struggle within the community because they are viewed as “different” which definitely isn’t true. I highly recommend if you LOVE a romance book and young love this is definitely the book for you. The beginning of the book definitely started out slow but it definitely picked up. I highly recommend everyone to read this book cause it really got me into my feels. The title of the book The Sound of You is such a powerful title and it definitely will leave you in your feels after reading the book. This book was a great story about grief and finding who you are as a person and finding your place in the world.
July 31, 2025
This was the most profound and tender book I've ever read. It has so much character, and love, and warmth in its writing. It's comforting, even when it's talking about grief. In fact, it actually helped me unpack some of my grief, as the writing was so accurate and particular to the feelings and sensations that I feel when I grieve. Bottom line, this book feels like a warm hug. It feels like coming back home somehow.
I found myself smiling the entire time I read it. Even in the sadder parts, it still felt hopeful, and there was still a dry humour and wittiness to the writing. This is honestly the most emotional and poetic romance I've ever read. It is proof that love transcends our senses. That it is something that lives between us.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone. I think it would be able to speak to any reader, no matter what.
A huge thank you to SD Press and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I found myself smiling the entire time I read it. Even in the sadder parts, it still felt hopeful, and there was still a dry humour and wittiness to the writing. This is honestly the most emotional and poetic romance I've ever read. It is proof that love transcends our senses. That it is something that lives between us.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone. I think it would be able to speak to any reader, no matter what.
A huge thank you to SD Press and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2025
I have previously read This is Not a Vampire Story, I was interested to read something by Simon Doyle that was completely different.
The Sound of You follows Owen through the grief of his grandfather passing away. He accidentally meets Jun-ho, a half Korean, half Irish, wearer of soft jumpers who speaks with his hands. Owen then starts learning Irish Sign Language (ISL) to be able to communicate with Jun-ho. As Owen makes friends in his class, gets invited to events for the deaf community with Jun-ho, and includes his best friend from school, he starts to form a new group of people who become his close friends.
This story managed to deal with grief, belonging, and family conflict really well without ever minimising the experience or being too flippant about it. It was a really satisfying story arc and had a very satisfying conclusion.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
The Sound of You follows Owen through the grief of his grandfather passing away. He accidentally meets Jun-ho, a half Korean, half Irish, wearer of soft jumpers who speaks with his hands. Owen then starts learning Irish Sign Language (ISL) to be able to communicate with Jun-ho. As Owen makes friends in his class, gets invited to events for the deaf community with Jun-ho, and includes his best friend from school, he starts to form a new group of people who become his close friends.
This story managed to deal with grief, belonging, and family conflict really well without ever minimising the experience or being too flippant about it. It was a really satisfying story arc and had a very satisfying conclusion.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
October 27, 2025
"I slipped my hand into Jun’s, standing beside him. I closed my eyes and thought about Grandad Tommy. About how he used to say artists don’t see with their eyes—they see with their hearts. This was the same. Jun and I, we were hearing with something else. Something deep. I felt the burr of the planes. The rattle of suitcase wheels on the concrete. The pull of the air as the automatic doors opened and closed behind us. The exhaust fumes on my legs from a travel coach. The drum of a million feet. A breath of wind. And I felt Jun beside me. Solid. Whole. Mine. We didn’t speak. There was no need. The silence was all we had. It was everything we needed."
Absolutely brilliant. The best book this author has put out yet. He sensitively handles issues within and without the deaf community and also the cultural differences between Ireland and South Korea. I give it my highest recommendation.
June 27, 2025
I have enjoyed reading all of Simon Doyle’s books. His latest one is an endearing love story between two teenage boys: one Irish (Owen) and the other half-Korean, half-Irish (Jun). Jun is also deaf. In addition to Owen and Jun there are many supporting roles, including Owen’s grandfather who dies right at the start of the book; we see Owen struggle with his grief over this loss.
The burgeoning relationship between Owen and Jun is delight to observe, despite the challenges of Jun’s lack of hearing (which he makes up for in other ways) and the cultural differences between Ireland and Korea, including Jun’s difficult Korean father.
This was a rewarding read. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.
The burgeoning relationship between Owen and Jun is delight to observe, despite the challenges of Jun’s lack of hearing (which he makes up for in other ways) and the cultural differences between Ireland and Korea, including Jun’s difficult Korean father.
This was a rewarding read. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.
June 5, 2025
Recieved as an e-arc.
This book was beautiful, addressing the complexity of grief and the subtleties of language and emotion that we rarely communicate with words. How we learn to speak with more than just our voice and how there is an art in that. In sound warps and changes in regards to who we are, where we are.
And there is always such a delicacy, such a fragility to the relationships that Doyle portrays which I always crave, cradling them close and making me want to keep reading to ensure they are kept safe.
It was an exquisite read and one I would highly recommend. Fans of William Hussey and Simon James Green will enjoy this.
This book was beautiful, addressing the complexity of grief and the subtleties of language and emotion that we rarely communicate with words. How we learn to speak with more than just our voice and how there is an art in that. In sound warps and changes in regards to who we are, where we are.
And there is always such a delicacy, such a fragility to the relationships that Doyle portrays which I always crave, cradling them close and making me want to keep reading to ensure they are kept safe.
It was an exquisite read and one I would highly recommend. Fans of William Hussey and Simon James Green will enjoy this.
June 22, 2025
A sweet story, very emotional and beautiful.
It touches upon some heavy topics, and it makes you reflect a lot on your own experiences, and you just don’t notice how quickly you become so invested in the story.
The main characters are just so sweet, and the whole cast of others is so great as well. The found family, the friendships, parents-children relationships, it was very interesting to see them all.
Overall, a great read, would definitely recommend 🤍
It touches upon some heavy topics, and it makes you reflect a lot on your own experiences, and you just don’t notice how quickly you become so invested in the story.
The main characters are just so sweet, and the whole cast of others is so great as well. The found family, the friendships, parents-children relationships, it was very interesting to see them all.
Overall, a great read, would definitely recommend 🤍
July 16, 2025
The Sound of You by Simon Doyle is a heartwarming, wholesome, and beautifully told story. It centers on two main characters: Owen, a sixteen-year-old aspiring artist grappling with the recent loss of his grandfather, and Jun-ho, a kind, deaf and mute boy who has just moved to Ireland with his mother.
Their paths cross by chance—but that moment of serendipity becomes something deeply meaningful for both of them, arriving at a time when they each need it most.
This is a tender, moving story about grief, love, and acceptance. Simon Doyle draws you into their world from the very first encounter, and I was completely immersed in their journey as it unfolded.
It was an easy five-star read for me. If you’re drawn to heartfelt connections and queer love stories, this is one you won’t want to miss.
Their paths cross by chance—but that moment of serendipity becomes something deeply meaningful for both of them, arriving at a time when they each need it most.
This is a tender, moving story about grief, love, and acceptance. Simon Doyle draws you into their world from the very first encounter, and I was completely immersed in their journey as it unfolded.
It was an easy five-star read for me. If you’re drawn to heartfelt connections and queer love stories, this is one you won’t want to miss.
December 6, 2025
Amazing. A well written, teenage romantic novel about true love which helps to overcome grief. A beautiful insight into the world without sound.
It made me cry a few times, but it made me smile a few more. Ryan is an amazing friend and his character is strong and a bunch of fun.
It even made me think of taking up a sign language course. I just need to figure out which language.
Highly recommended.
It made me cry a few times, but it made me smile a few more. Ryan is an amazing friend and his character is strong and a bunch of fun.
It even made me think of taking up a sign language course. I just need to figure out which language.
Highly recommended.
December 20, 2025
Much of this is achingly beautiful and there are major heartstopper vibes. There is a bit of conflict in the end and a climax that feels a little contrived but ultimately this was absolutely amazing and I loved it.
That said, watercolor paintings are done in paper, not canvas. This bugged me to no end.
That said, watercolor paintings are done in paper, not canvas. This bugged me to no end.
August 5, 2025
I had such high hopes, but this one didn't work for me unfortunately.
July 4, 2025
This was such a great book! Owen is struggling after a great loss, until one day he meets a quiet boy in the park, Jun. After realizing that Jun is deaf and communicates through sign language, Owen is determined to learn to speak to him.
Jun has his own personal struggles in his father, who lives in South Korea. His father is determined to fix Jun, despite what the boy wants for himself.
Can the boys work together to convince Jun’s father that he isn’t someone that needs to be fixed? Will the boys be able to stay together?
This book was a pure delight, beautifully written, with some absolutely amazing characters. Both boy have some amazing growth during this story. If you enjoy YA and MM stories, you should definitely give this one a read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of this book.
Jun has his own personal struggles in his father, who lives in South Korea. His father is determined to fix Jun, despite what the boy wants for himself.
Can the boys work together to convince Jun’s father that he isn’t someone that needs to be fixed? Will the boys be able to stay together?
This book was a pure delight, beautifully written, with some absolutely amazing characters. Both boy have some amazing growth during this story. If you enjoy YA and MM stories, you should definitely give this one a read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of this book.
July 22, 2025
Thank you so much NetGalley, SD Press, Simon Doyle for the ARC!
The sound of you was just so amazing! It was such a sweet story with so much heart and sappy little moments between Owen and Jun-ho. They were just so perfect, and the fact that they both helped each other with a difficult part of their lives was just such a great thing.
I haven’t read my books with deaf representation, but I think that Simon did an amazing job and handling that well and showing how Owen and Jun-ho’s budding relationship works. I will say, though, the fact that Owen learned ISL to speak with Jun-ho just made me kick my feet and giggle! I mean, come on, talk about romantic! 🥰
I really loved the fact that Owen fought to Jun-ho, when his father came and wanted to take him away. It just showed how much Owen cared for him and what he was willing to do. But the exhibit turned into more than just that, it really helped others take on a new perspective. That alone was my favourite part of the whole book, and just a great way to lead towards the ending.
Overall, 10/10 and would def read this again.
The sound of you was just so amazing! It was such a sweet story with so much heart and sappy little moments between Owen and Jun-ho. They were just so perfect, and the fact that they both helped each other with a difficult part of their lives was just such a great thing.
I haven’t read my books with deaf representation, but I think that Simon did an amazing job and handling that well and showing how Owen and Jun-ho’s budding relationship works. I will say, though, the fact that Owen learned ISL to speak with Jun-ho just made me kick my feet and giggle! I mean, come on, talk about romantic! 🥰
I really loved the fact that Owen fought to Jun-ho, when his father came and wanted to take him away. It just showed how much Owen cared for him and what he was willing to do. But the exhibit turned into more than just that, it really helped others take on a new perspective. That alone was my favourite part of the whole book, and just a great way to lead towards the ending.
Overall, 10/10 and would def read this again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews