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Hi-Voltage
“Voltage is a multicultural British band from France, Japan, South Korea, and Uruguay, who got their start in the London underground metal scene in 2002. Driven by the creative vision of their vocalist, Zana, and their composer and guitarist, Reno, Voltage has shot into fame over the last decade. With a unique blend of influences and sounds, Voltage has consistently claimed the top of the worldwide metal charts, and has also been gaining attention outside of the metal scene over the last few years—”
Voltage has always been Luka Fischer’s favorite band, even before Reno and he had a chance encounter a decade ago— However, that doesn’t mean he should uproot his life just because Reno posted online looking for him, by name, with his photo, right?
But, Reno doesn’t believe in coincidences and he’s positive that if Luka has haunted his memory for a decade, then they shouldn’t ignore the chance to find him again.
Spanning across America to England, Luka and Reno take a chance to follow a dream. Despite insecurities, anxieties, a too-busy schedule, pressure from the industry, and some pretty crazy fans, it still might just be worth it.
Voltage has always been Luka Fischer’s favorite band, even before Reno and he had a chance encounter a decade ago— However, that doesn’t mean he should uproot his life just because Reno posted online looking for him, by name, with his photo, right?
But, Reno doesn’t believe in coincidences and he’s positive that if Luka has haunted his memory for a decade, then they shouldn’t ignore the chance to find him again.
Spanning across America to England, Luka and Reno take a chance to follow a dream. Despite insecurities, anxieties, a too-busy schedule, pressure from the industry, and some pretty crazy fans, it still might just be worth it.
474 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2025
8 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
December 14, 2025
"If I couldn't forget you for 10 years, then I shouldn't forget you now."
Hi-Voltage is a very cool and modern feeling rock star romance featuring a superstar and one of his biggest fans. With one mc being a trans man and one mc being amab genderqueer, it features a lot unapologetically queer vibes and joy, and the way these characters are written is SO refreshing.
Both MCs are so fleshed out and with so much personality, the narrative never leans on their sexuality or gender identity to make up for anything, if that makes sense. Luka is an artist who escaped his closed-minded family and small town. He's sarcastic and snarky, with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, but ultimately very sweet. The fact that he's trans is important to his character, but the story doesn't revolve around dysphoria or identity, he just is what he is, which is something I'm always looking for when I read romance with a trans mc.
Reno is a character that seems simple at first, a confident and charismatic rock god who everyone loves and obsesses over. But as the story goes on, we get a lot more to his character regarding his people pleaser tendencies and how more or less growing up on the stage has really shaped him as a person, and not always to his benefit. On top of that, he's really cutesy and the way he texts Luka with all the emojis is really freaking adorable, it's hard not to love him.
Luka and Reno's chemistry is sweet and HOT (this story is very spicy and the spice is really good) and you really root for them to work out, pretty much right away. I won't go into details but I wasn't expecting physical stuff so early, so the scene where Luka comes backstage with the passes Reno sends him totally shocked me (in the best way possible)!
Another thing this story does well is a realistic portrayal of how horrible fandom space can be, and how cruel and vindictive so-called 'fans' of musicians, or any celebrity really, can be. Some of the social media posts shown in the book from jealous fans who hated Luka for being with Reno were so disgusting they made me feel sick, but at the same time it felt so realistic for how some of these psychos act. I was so sad for Luka in those parts.
Overall, if you like rock star romance, if you like trans or GNC main characters, if you like famous/rich billionaire types spoiling their 'I'm just a regular guy' boyfriends, then you will likely devour this book. The romance aspect was incredibly indulgent and sweet, there's so much humor, and soo much toxic drama because of the nature of Reno's job, you'll be hooked all the way through.
Hi-Voltage is a very cool and modern feeling rock star romance featuring a superstar and one of his biggest fans. With one mc being a trans man and one mc being amab genderqueer, it features a lot unapologetically queer vibes and joy, and the way these characters are written is SO refreshing.
Both MCs are so fleshed out and with so much personality, the narrative never leans on their sexuality or gender identity to make up for anything, if that makes sense. Luka is an artist who escaped his closed-minded family and small town. He's sarcastic and snarky, with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, but ultimately very sweet. The fact that he's trans is important to his character, but the story doesn't revolve around dysphoria or identity, he just is what he is, which is something I'm always looking for when I read romance with a trans mc.
Reno is a character that seems simple at first, a confident and charismatic rock god who everyone loves and obsesses over. But as the story goes on, we get a lot more to his character regarding his people pleaser tendencies and how more or less growing up on the stage has really shaped him as a person, and not always to his benefit. On top of that, he's really cutesy and the way he texts Luka with all the emojis is really freaking adorable, it's hard not to love him.
Luka and Reno's chemistry is sweet and HOT (this story is very spicy and the spice is really good) and you really root for them to work out, pretty much right away. I won't go into details but I wasn't expecting physical stuff so early, so the scene where Luka comes backstage with the passes Reno sends him totally shocked me (in the best way possible)!
Another thing this story does well is a realistic portrayal of how horrible fandom space can be, and how cruel and vindictive so-called 'fans' of musicians, or any celebrity really, can be. Some of the social media posts shown in the book from jealous fans who hated Luka for being with Reno were so disgusting they made me feel sick, but at the same time it felt so realistic for how some of these psychos act. I was so sad for Luka in those parts.
Overall, if you like rock star romance, if you like trans or GNC main characters, if you like famous/rich billionaire types spoiling their 'I'm just a regular guy' boyfriends, then you will likely devour this book. The romance aspect was incredibly indulgent and sweet, there's so much humor, and soo much toxic drama because of the nature of Reno's job, you'll be hooked all the way through.
October 28, 2025
4.5 stars
Thank you to Raz Fox for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had absolutely no expectations of this book when I requested an ARC of it. I just knew that I liked Raz Fox’s art and that I loved queer band books. I was extremely surprised when this quickly became one of my favorite books of the year.
Luka and Reno are both incredibly interesting characters, well realized characters in their own rights with their own inner world and complicated pasts. Either of them are interesting enough on their own to carry a book, but to have two characters who hit the mark perfectly was something incredibly special.
Because of this complexity of character, their relationship also becomes endlessly interesting and electric in its own right. The development, while done in a short period of time within the timeline of the book, comes off as authentic and beautiful. The conclusion one draws from them is that Luka and Reno are meant for each other, but more than that, that they will continue to choose each other over and over again no matter how hard it becomes. I just loved them.
The other side characters are also very interesting in their own right. I loved the sense of found family in this book. All in all, the characters all contributed to this book feeling like a real, authentic queer experience.
The prose, smut, dialogue, detail, and setting were all impressive to me as well. I will definitely be reading more from Raz Fox in the future.
The only reason that this book didn’t quite reach five stars for me was the pacing. I think the first chapter is a little jarring to jump right into, and I felt that the third act stretched on way more than it needed to. I think this book could be about 100 pages shorter and it would be just as good, if not better.
Other than that, this book was FANTASTIC. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in queer romance, bands, fandom, and complex characters. Please someone else read this so I can yap your ear off about it!
Thank you to Raz Fox for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had absolutely no expectations of this book when I requested an ARC of it. I just knew that I liked Raz Fox’s art and that I loved queer band books. I was extremely surprised when this quickly became one of my favorite books of the year.
Luka and Reno are both incredibly interesting characters, well realized characters in their own rights with their own inner world and complicated pasts. Either of them are interesting enough on their own to carry a book, but to have two characters who hit the mark perfectly was something incredibly special.
Because of this complexity of character, their relationship also becomes endlessly interesting and electric in its own right. The development, while done in a short period of time within the timeline of the book, comes off as authentic and beautiful. The conclusion one draws from them is that Luka and Reno are meant for each other, but more than that, that they will continue to choose each other over and over again no matter how hard it becomes. I just loved them.
The other side characters are also very interesting in their own right. I loved the sense of found family in this book. All in all, the characters all contributed to this book feeling like a real, authentic queer experience.
The prose, smut, dialogue, detail, and setting were all impressive to me as well. I will definitely be reading more from Raz Fox in the future.
The only reason that this book didn’t quite reach five stars for me was the pacing. I think the first chapter is a little jarring to jump right into, and I felt that the third act stretched on way more than it needed to. I think this book could be about 100 pages shorter and it would be just as good, if not better.
Other than that, this book was FANTASTIC. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in queer romance, bands, fandom, and complex characters. Please someone else read this so I can yap your ear off about it!
November 22, 2025
I'm hopelessly in love with Reno and Luka's love story. Two beautiful souls finding each other. I couldn't stop the tears, happy tears, in the last few chapters. And the ending was perfect.
One thing I loved about this story is how the author included so many cultures and languages and mage them all fit together perfectly. I absolutely adored how Reno sometimes was confused over American phrases or terms.
The author also made the spicy scenes extra spicy, without being raunchy and obscene. The reverence Reno and Luka showed to each other's bodies made me feel like I was intruding.
I really had a hard time believing Reno (and honestly all the characters) aren't real. Why aren't they real? I need these people in my life. I guess I'll have to settle for knowing them through this book.
I want to go on and on, but I don't want to leave spoilers. So I'll end by saying read this book. You'll be thankful you did.
One thing I loved about this story is how the author included so many cultures and languages and mage them all fit together perfectly. I absolutely adored how Reno sometimes was confused over American phrases or terms.
The author also made the spicy scenes extra spicy, without being raunchy and obscene. The reverence Reno and Luka showed to each other's bodies made me feel like I was intruding.
I really had a hard time believing Reno (and honestly all the characters) aren't real. Why aren't they real? I need these people in my life. I guess I'll have to settle for knowing them through this book.
I want to go on and on, but I don't want to leave spoilers. So I'll end by saying read this book. You'll be thankful you did.
October 24, 2025
This book was wonderful! 🥹💕 It's an amazing concept—a rockstar wanting to get together with one of his fans. But it's not just any fan, it's someone who Reno met 10 years ago at the start of his career and hadn't seen since, but thought of him often. That fan, Luka, had been loving Reno's music all those 10 years as well, helping him get through some tough times. Lo and behold, eventually they finally meet again, and their chemistry is electric! ⚡💖
It was wonderful to see the queer and trans joy within their relationship. There's a lot of fluff in this chonker of a book, and I adored it because I simply fell in love with the characters! Not to mention Raz's gorgeous art that goes with it—take a look at it all on their socials. ✨
The last act of the book was gripping, I didn't want to put it down! It was exciting exploring the realities of fame, public scrutiny, paparazzi, and all that which goes with being famous. Raz did a wonderful job exploring that all within Reno and Luka's relationship. This was a fantastic book!! 💕💖💕💖
It was wonderful to see the queer and trans joy within their relationship. There's a lot of fluff in this chonker of a book, and I adored it because I simply fell in love with the characters! Not to mention Raz's gorgeous art that goes with it—take a look at it all on their socials. ✨
The last act of the book was gripping, I didn't want to put it down! It was exciting exploring the realities of fame, public scrutiny, paparazzi, and all that which goes with being famous. Raz did a wonderful job exploring that all within Reno and Luka's relationship. This was a fantastic book!! 💕💖💕💖
November 30, 2025
Hi-Voltage lives up to the name: Reno and Luka are electric.
I'm all for escapist rockstar romance but I really liked how this book fully acknowledges the danger of blurring the line between fan, friend, and lover. I loved seeing Luka and Reno reconcile their wildest fantasies with the reality of building something real together.
The language blend of Japanese and French is very nostalgic for me...Reminded me of visual kei bands I loved growing up. (Shout out to Malice Mizer, Moi dix Mois and Versailles for raising me right.)
I also love the visual elements. The social media graphics are a great immersive touch. I highly recommend checking out all the rad character art Fox has dropped so far!
Thanks so much to the author for sending an advance copy my way. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
I'm all for escapist rockstar romance but I really liked how this book fully acknowledges the danger of blurring the line between fan, friend, and lover. I loved seeing Luka and Reno reconcile their wildest fantasies with the reality of building something real together.
The language blend of Japanese and French is very nostalgic for me...Reminded me of visual kei bands I loved growing up. (Shout out to Malice Mizer, Moi dix Mois and Versailles for raising me right.)
I also love the visual elements. The social media graphics are a great immersive touch. I highly recommend checking out all the rad character art Fox has dropped so far!
Thanks so much to the author for sending an advance copy my way. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
November 1, 2025
Hi-Voltage is the kind of novel that grabbed me, an ADHD mess, by the hair and said "you will NOT be looking away from me today. Not on my watch."
It has been years since a novel was able to keep my attention from start to finish in one sitting, and I attribute that to the amazing chemistry that the two main characters have with each other, and that exists within the band itself.
This story to me, specifically, hit home as someone who is queer and has existed heavily within irl people fandoms/stanning culture. Every fan has had those dreams - the dream of attaining the unattainable person they stan. It's what often makes fandom fun, and seeing it play out for Luka is like seeing this reality come true and seeing a fan reach the unreachable.
Luka and Reno left a huge lasting impression on me because their relationship is real, raw, and messy, but also kind, soft, and beautiful, just like relationships are in real life. Their story wasn’t the cliché perfect romance - it had time skips, gaps, bumps, flaws and problems which threatened their security as a couple, but seeing them persevere made it all worth it.
Additionally, the side characters were amazing, and as a certified side character lover myself, I was specifically smitten with Arnaud, and also very captivated by the interactions between him and Reno, which I find very familiar myself between my friends who have seen my ups and downs and have been there for me doubling as friends, family, and lovers at different times of my life. It was truly lovely to see that type of relationship play out.
Overall, I think this novel will definitely appeal to a wide range of audiences but will very closely hit home in the hearts of queer fangirls/fanboys/fantheys because of the lived experiences of Luka as a fan.
10/10 for an amazingly written novel, with amazingly written characters that you can tell were created from the heart.
It has been years since a novel was able to keep my attention from start to finish in one sitting, and I attribute that to the amazing chemistry that the two main characters have with each other, and that exists within the band itself.
This story to me, specifically, hit home as someone who is queer and has existed heavily within irl people fandoms/stanning culture. Every fan has had those dreams - the dream of attaining the unattainable person they stan. It's what often makes fandom fun, and seeing it play out for Luka is like seeing this reality come true and seeing a fan reach the unreachable.
Luka and Reno left a huge lasting impression on me because their relationship is real, raw, and messy, but also kind, soft, and beautiful, just like relationships are in real life. Their story wasn’t the cliché perfect romance - it had time skips, gaps, bumps, flaws and problems which threatened their security as a couple, but seeing them persevere made it all worth it.
Additionally, the side characters were amazing, and as a certified side character lover myself, I was specifically smitten with Arnaud, and also very captivated by the interactions between him and Reno, which I find very familiar myself between my friends who have seen my ups and downs and have been there for me doubling as friends, family, and lovers at different times of my life. It was truly lovely to see that type of relationship play out.
Overall, I think this novel will definitely appeal to a wide range of audiences but will very closely hit home in the hearts of queer fangirls/fanboys/fantheys because of the lived experiences of Luka as a fan.
10/10 for an amazingly written novel, with amazingly written characters that you can tell were created from the heart.
November 18, 2025
so …
i wish i could rate this book 6 stars.
i might be in love with this book, with the characters and with the story.
i love love love reno so much, im so emotional right now. he’s so talented and gorgeous, they went through so much and never gave up. he might be my favourite character ever. i relate to them the most i would say.
luka. he’s the best, i love him so much and i understand parts of him that i have as well. he’s so talented as well and both luka and reno look so good together 😋😋 !!!!
things i loved about this book:
first, the main characters (besides reno and luka). they are so interesting and part of the story in every way that you can’t help but love them. all of them are a family in a way and at the end they all help each other.
second, the overall vibe of this book. i can’t explain the way the vibes of this book make me feel, i love it so much, it’s like i am looking at myself in a mirror. as i write this i might be thinking of dyeing my hair pink.
third, tropes. FOUND FAMILY, FREAK X FREAK, MENTAL HEALTH REP, QUEER & TRANS JOY AND SO MUCH MORE. this book is perfect.
fourth, THE ART. i don’t know about you but i follow the author on instagram and the art for this book and of the characters is so beautiful i am obsessing over it. i love seeing the art for reno, luka and the other characters as well. SO SO SO MUCH TALENT !!!!
fifth, the lgbtq+ representation all over the book. every character has their own little backstory and i couldn’t ask for more perfect way to explain it. what i mean is that this book lets you see different characters and who they are without making it seem as forced or complicated. there is some angst but at the end this book lets you experience queer & trans joy that we need so much.
sixth, SEBASTIAN. i have to add him on the list because i loveeeeee when there is a latino character. he’s amazing and i loved it so much when he spoke spanish.
seventh, reno’s personality. i have to put this on the list because i now have reno close to my heart, i love him so dearly. they show up and do their best and try to help everyone around him but forgets about him. i love seeing reno happy and just their aura in general is so attractive i love him 💗💗💗💗.
i could keep talking about this book for hours but just now that you should definitely read it !!!! it’s so worth it and this might be my top read of 2025.
i wish i could rate this book 6 stars.
i might be in love with this book, with the characters and with the story.
i love love love reno so much, im so emotional right now. he’s so talented and gorgeous, they went through so much and never gave up. he might be my favourite character ever. i relate to them the most i would say.
luka. he’s the best, i love him so much and i understand parts of him that i have as well. he’s so talented as well and both luka and reno look so good together 😋😋 !!!!
things i loved about this book:
first, the main characters (besides reno and luka). they are so interesting and part of the story in every way that you can’t help but love them. all of them are a family in a way and at the end they all help each other.
second, the overall vibe of this book. i can’t explain the way the vibes of this book make me feel, i love it so much, it’s like i am looking at myself in a mirror. as i write this i might be thinking of dyeing my hair pink.
third, tropes. FOUND FAMILY, FREAK X FREAK, MENTAL HEALTH REP, QUEER & TRANS JOY AND SO MUCH MORE. this book is perfect.
fourth, THE ART. i don’t know about you but i follow the author on instagram and the art for this book and of the characters is so beautiful i am obsessing over it. i love seeing the art for reno, luka and the other characters as well. SO SO SO MUCH TALENT !!!!
fifth, the lgbtq+ representation all over the book. every character has their own little backstory and i couldn’t ask for more perfect way to explain it. what i mean is that this book lets you see different characters and who they are without making it seem as forced or complicated. there is some angst but at the end this book lets you experience queer & trans joy that we need so much.
sixth, SEBASTIAN. i have to add him on the list because i loveeeeee when there is a latino character. he’s amazing and i loved it so much when he spoke spanish.
seventh, reno’s personality. i have to put this on the list because i now have reno close to my heart, i love him so dearly. they show up and do their best and try to help everyone around him but forgets about him. i love seeing reno happy and just their aura in general is so attractive i love him 💗💗💗💗.
i could keep talking about this book for hours but just now that you should definitely read it !!!! it’s so worth it and this might be my top read of 2025.
November 28, 2025
THANK YOU RAZ FOR THE ARC!!!
This has seriously been a wonderful journey from start to finish. I've loved getting to know Luka and Reno from the start of their journey to the end of it and sobbing with happy tears. Theirs is a whirl wind romance that starts out as a brief moment ten years back, and it's a moment that never left Reno, a rockstar from a rising band called Voltage, when he meets a fan, Luka, a trans man. It's not quite a love at first sight, but more of a feeling so strong, what do you do but try to connect? And lucky for us, Luka is receptive, but hesitant. What kind of crazy person fixates on a brief encounter with a stranger and goes through the next ten years trying to find him again?
Reno. That's who. Crazy. But a darling. A crazy pink haired darling who wears his heart on his sleeve, and takes insane chances and who pops up back in Luka's life once he's found him again. Reno is just so much as a person, intense, and Luka's been burned and hurt before. How does he know this relationship won't leave him feeling the same? Except it won't, and Reno will have to show him again and again. That this thing between them, might be the real deal.
This book is a fast whirlwind of emotions and a serious talk about relationships, queerness, being trans and the fantastic ability of being able to communicate feelings with each other. So much of our lives we spend it second guessing meanings in our relationships, but Reno and Luka, and their friends, lay out the cards for us. This is how real relationships get built up, with trust and communication. That's not to say it's easy though, there's still bumps along the way and boy, when I say bumps, I mean-screaming and tearing my hair out-bumps in the road.
I've finished the book, but I still want more. I've come to love their friends, especially the bandmates in Voltage (Zana, Zana my man, I am your most devoted fan and I love you), and most of all, I want more of Reno and Luka. I miss their interactions and love, it was so pink, warm, fuzzy, and very insane. They're both crazy for each other. And I'm the crazy one for falling for them too.
This has seriously been a wonderful journey from start to finish. I've loved getting to know Luka and Reno from the start of their journey to the end of it and sobbing with happy tears. Theirs is a whirl wind romance that starts out as a brief moment ten years back, and it's a moment that never left Reno, a rockstar from a rising band called Voltage, when he meets a fan, Luka, a trans man. It's not quite a love at first sight, but more of a feeling so strong, what do you do but try to connect? And lucky for us, Luka is receptive, but hesitant. What kind of crazy person fixates on a brief encounter with a stranger and goes through the next ten years trying to find him again?
Reno. That's who. Crazy. But a darling. A crazy pink haired darling who wears his heart on his sleeve, and takes insane chances and who pops up back in Luka's life once he's found him again. Reno is just so much as a person, intense, and Luka's been burned and hurt before. How does he know this relationship won't leave him feeling the same? Except it won't, and Reno will have to show him again and again. That this thing between them, might be the real deal.
This book is a fast whirlwind of emotions and a serious talk about relationships, queerness, being trans and the fantastic ability of being able to communicate feelings with each other. So much of our lives we spend it second guessing meanings in our relationships, but Reno and Luka, and their friends, lay out the cards for us. This is how real relationships get built up, with trust and communication. That's not to say it's easy though, there's still bumps along the way and boy, when I say bumps, I mean-screaming and tearing my hair out-bumps in the road.
I've finished the book, but I still want more. I've come to love their friends, especially the bandmates in Voltage (Zana, Zana my man, I am your most devoted fan and I love you), and most of all, I want more of Reno and Luka. I miss their interactions and love, it was so pink, warm, fuzzy, and very insane. They're both crazy for each other. And I'm the crazy one for falling for them too.
November 19, 2025
I am so desperately in love with Reno and Luka. They are just so freaking adorable! Definitely relationship goals at the end. These boys had me in my feelings the ENTIRE DANG TIME! I really got so wrapped up in the “will they, won’t they” of their journey that I wasn’t keeping track of there i was in the story, and the ending crept up on me out of no where!
Reno is such an adroable maniac, and I love, love, love his sense of style! He’s giving Jem, from Jem and the Holograms, if she was a genderqueer, bisexual Japanese man. With his baby pink hair, the platform boots and the stunning stage makeup!
There is also something so heart achingly beautiful about the fact that Reno had kept Luka in his mind for a decade! Held on to the memory of meeting him, and wanted to find him again, wanted to know him, be friends with him.
Then there’s Luka; sweet, sweet, self conscious baby boy Luka. He has such a strong capacity for loving others, and just wants to be on the receiving end of genuine love and devotion, like he is readily giving to others. He’s such a little sweetheart, being a devoted fan of the band, silently in love with Reno for years, fantasizing about getting to meet him again after their chance encounter when he was in high school. (WHICH, Reno is a KING for handling as well as he did at the time, especially considering everything that he’d had been through).
I also see a part of myself in Luka, which is something I really love, when I’m reading. Being able to connect to the characters makes the story more meaningful to me as a reader. He’s a deeply creative person, trapped in the cycle of a noncreative corporate job just to make ends meet.
The ending? Very much giving the ending of a BL Manwha/ Manga (which i also happen to read wayyy too much of) and I am so obsessed with it! I wish that i could erase it from my mind and read it for the first time all over again!
Reno is such an adroable maniac, and I love, love, love his sense of style! He’s giving Jem, from Jem and the Holograms, if she was a genderqueer, bisexual Japanese man. With his baby pink hair, the platform boots and the stunning stage makeup!
There is also something so heart achingly beautiful about the fact that Reno had kept Luka in his mind for a decade! Held on to the memory of meeting him, and wanted to find him again, wanted to know him, be friends with him.
Then there’s Luka; sweet, sweet, self conscious baby boy Luka. He has such a strong capacity for loving others, and just wants to be on the receiving end of genuine love and devotion, like he is readily giving to others. He’s such a little sweetheart, being a devoted fan of the band, silently in love with Reno for years, fantasizing about getting to meet him again after their chance encounter when he was in high school. (WHICH, Reno is a KING for handling as well as he did at the time, especially considering everything that he’d had been through).
I also see a part of myself in Luka, which is something I really love, when I’m reading. Being able to connect to the characters makes the story more meaningful to me as a reader. He’s a deeply creative person, trapped in the cycle of a noncreative corporate job just to make ends meet.
The ending? Very much giving the ending of a BL Manwha/ Manga (which i also happen to read wayyy too much of) and I am so obsessed with it! I wish that i could erase it from my mind and read it for the first time all over again!
November 24, 2025
Side note: The art for this book is just as beautiful as the book itself so I highly recommend checking out the author’s socials before or after you read!
High Voltage follows Luka - a pretty grumpy serious guy as he forms a relationship with one of his favourite music artists in one of his favourite bands. Straight from the jump you can tell that the author cares for fandom spaces a lot and that care extends to reminding people that being parasocial is unhealthy both for the artists and for the fans. High Voltage paints a healthier picture of fandom especially through Luka and Reno’s relationship - Luka is a big fan but he’s able to separate Reno’s music and who Reno and the band are as people and it’s a beautiful touching message that really stayed with me as I read. There’s a lot of queer and trans joy in this book too which just added another layer of feeling seen for me, it’s so comforting to have that space in a book especially with the craziness going on in the world in regard to Trans rights. There’s also rep for a lot of different relationship styles like QPRs and Open relationships, there’s understanding and openness between the characters even when they have different sexualities or concepts of things like gender. I have to say I’m definitely a Reno guy but that’s definitely because I can relate most to him, it’s nice to have a MMC that you can relate to and it’s nice to have a fictional band that isn’t all straight white cis men. Overall Raz Fox has done an excellent job with High Voltage, I cannot recommend reading it enough!
Features
🎀Trans Male & GNC MMCs
🚬 Trans & Queer Happiness
🎸Romance with a capital R
🎻 Learning to Trust
🎵Fandom Culture
🎀 Open Door Spice
High Voltage follows Luka - a pretty grumpy serious guy as he forms a relationship with one of his favourite music artists in one of his favourite bands. Straight from the jump you can tell that the author cares for fandom spaces a lot and that care extends to reminding people that being parasocial is unhealthy both for the artists and for the fans. High Voltage paints a healthier picture of fandom especially through Luka and Reno’s relationship - Luka is a big fan but he’s able to separate Reno’s music and who Reno and the band are as people and it’s a beautiful touching message that really stayed with me as I read. There’s a lot of queer and trans joy in this book too which just added another layer of feeling seen for me, it’s so comforting to have that space in a book especially with the craziness going on in the world in regard to Trans rights. There’s also rep for a lot of different relationship styles like QPRs and Open relationships, there’s understanding and openness between the characters even when they have different sexualities or concepts of things like gender. I have to say I’m definitely a Reno guy but that’s definitely because I can relate most to him, it’s nice to have a MMC that you can relate to and it’s nice to have a fictional band that isn’t all straight white cis men. Overall Raz Fox has done an excellent job with High Voltage, I cannot recommend reading it enough!
Features
🎀Trans Male & GNC MMCs
🚬 Trans & Queer Happiness
🎸Romance with a capital R
🎻 Learning to Trust
🎵Fandom Culture
🎀 Open Door Spice
November 7, 2025
This was intoxicating, adorably sweet, spicy, intense, and an absolute pleasure to read.
The way it explores gender identity and sexuality was inspiring, it isn't just diverse, it shows you don't need to fit in a box, just be true to yourself and embrace connection.
It navigates the complexities of relationships, having to find compromises and sacrifices, the realities of long distance, and the toxic nature of social media and the public's intrusion on celebrity privacy.
The found family elements of the band, and the way they love and protect each other was beautiful, and I absolutely loved Sage, August and Arnaud and their helpful interference and support.
Reno and Luca are precious and you can't help but root for them. They have polar opposite lives, but they connect fiercely, fight for their time together even with all the challenges their lives bring, and confront their insecurities, fears, and vulnerabilities together.
This feels like a perfect blend of insta-love, passion and emotional connection, and is raw, honest and wholesome.
I also loved the cultural elements, the sweet gestures, and how you feel immersed in their world.
"I'll happily be an idiot if it makes you say yes to me over and over"
"When will you understand that 'because I want to' is enough reason to devote myself?"
"If I hadn't already found you and I saw your art, I would hunt you down. You make me feel seen"
"I want you to live this life with me, even if it's terrible sometimes. I want you by my side so badly that it feels like half of me is missing when you're gone"
The way it explores gender identity and sexuality was inspiring, it isn't just diverse, it shows you don't need to fit in a box, just be true to yourself and embrace connection.
It navigates the complexities of relationships, having to find compromises and sacrifices, the realities of long distance, and the toxic nature of social media and the public's intrusion on celebrity privacy.
The found family elements of the band, and the way they love and protect each other was beautiful, and I absolutely loved Sage, August and Arnaud and their helpful interference and support.
Reno and Luca are precious and you can't help but root for them. They have polar opposite lives, but they connect fiercely, fight for their time together even with all the challenges their lives bring, and confront their insecurities, fears, and vulnerabilities together.
This feels like a perfect blend of insta-love, passion and emotional connection, and is raw, honest and wholesome.
I also loved the cultural elements, the sweet gestures, and how you feel immersed in their world.
"I'll happily be an idiot if it makes you say yes to me over and over"
"When will you understand that 'because I want to' is enough reason to devote myself?"
"If I hadn't already found you and I saw your art, I would hunt you down. You make me feel seen"
"I want you to live this life with me, even if it's terrible sometimes. I want you by my side so badly that it feels like half of me is missing when you're gone"
December 1, 2025
I knew I wanted to read this book as soon as I seen some of the tropes in the arc call. It was a moment of where everything about the book was everything I could ever want. Rockstar x Fan, romcom, with Queer and Trans Joy and so much more. The cast is diverse and the charecters all feel so fleshed out and real. The way that this was written was like a movie playing out in my head the whole time or more so just being there. The writing is very immersive and easy to just fully delve into. This book is everything I wanted and more the reason it took me to read it so long (asides from work) was the fact that I did not want it to end. It was the battle of not wanting it to end but also not wanting to put it down at all once I had picked it up. Even a few chapters in I already felt like it was going to be a five star or new favourite book of mine. I also connected with this book in a way as a Trans guy who loves rock and everything alt and the rep in here just made me feel really seen. Books That I can relate to in this way have always been s special to me and I loved every second. If you are looking for your next read I highly recomend you pick it up. This is one of those books that I am now in the state of like how do I move on from this now that its done just because of how much I loved it. I can’t wait to read more of this authors stunning writing ^^
November 25, 2025
This book was such a refreshing read for me after what I consider my biggest reader block of my life. The prose is so nicely written I genuinely could feel myself being there with the characters, truly amazing work on how each of them are built and executed.
As I read more and more into the book I found myself lowkey relieving my 2015 self, getting all excited about a band and posts about them and even running to my friends to tell them something that happened with the band in the book. It was so easy for me to transport myself into the world where the characters live that I literally finished the book in like two and a half days.
Absolutely loved this and I look forward to read more from them (a.k.a I'm going to reread chapter five for what is probably the hundredth time already).
As I read more and more into the book I found myself lowkey relieving my 2015 self, getting all excited about a band and posts about them and even running to my friends to tell them something that happened with the band in the book. It was so easy for me to transport myself into the world where the characters live that I literally finished the book in like two and a half days.
Absolutely loved this and I look forward to read more from them (a.k.a I'm going to reread chapter five for what is probably the hundredth time already).
December 12, 2025
Reno and Luka are like a melody you can’t stop listening to. Replaying again and again, taking you through the same thrilling feeling as finding your next favourite song. Hi-Voltage hits all the right notes, bringing romance, spice, coziness and devastating heartache, all in one go. Hi-Voltage will definitely be a regular occurrence on my ‘On Repeat’ playlist.
•
It’s been a while since I read a book which has given me such a warm, fuzzy feeling (don’t worry about the absolutely devastating last 15% shhh). It’s a romcom but delightfully queer, with its rougher edges and a dash of pink. Instilled with complex and layered character work, dazzling aesthetics and a sense of music that is almost heard while reading, Hi-Voltage is bound to become an absolute fan favourite!
•
It’s been a while since I read a book which has given me such a warm, fuzzy feeling (don’t worry about the absolutely devastating last 15% shhh). It’s a romcom but delightfully queer, with its rougher edges and a dash of pink. Instilled with complex and layered character work, dazzling aesthetics and a sense of music that is almost heard while reading, Hi-Voltage is bound to become an absolute fan favourite!
November 20, 2025
I loved Hi-Voltage even more than I thought I would. It is by far one of the most beautiful and the best books I’ve read this year. I will try to not include any spoilers. Musicians are one of my guilt pleasures. I will read every book I can get my hands on with musical characters. This one having caught my attention real fast. Punk, hell yeah! Trans rep even better! The relationship between Reno and Luka might have grown fast, but to me it grew strong and true. The trust they both had in each other in the end was unbreakable. There was absolutely nothing that could have been better!
November 28, 2025
4.25 stars. After a short meeting years ago, Reno never forgot Luka despite living a way too busy and stressful life. He eventually finds Luka again, and they carefully grow a relationship. Reno's fame causes a number of complications, and as both have also been hurt in previous relationships, trust is difficult. I loved the genderfluid and trans representations. The on page characters felt very authentic and were very supportive in all the best ways.
Thanks for the advance copy of this book, I am happy to leave a voluntary review.
Thanks for the advance copy of this book, I am happy to leave a voluntary review.
October 30, 2025
I grew up in love with one direction (and still am) and always reading fanfic of one of them falling in love with me ✨ to me this book was an adult version of what I used to read under the covers until 6am on a school night and that’s exactly what I did with this one just ended up reallll sleepy at work lol. I absolutely loved the characters and the queer representation and can’t wait to see what Raz puts out next! 👀💦
November 6, 2025
Thank you Raz and team for providing me with an ARC!
This is such a beautiful love story. It was very difficult to put this story down.
I need this book on my shelf so I can pick it up to read again and again.
The spice and dialogue between Luka and Reno made me laugh, shiver and sigh.
The fact that all of the above is wrapped into a book about a band is my cup of tea!
I can’t wait to read more from this Author.
This is such a beautiful love story. It was very difficult to put this story down.
I need this book on my shelf so I can pick it up to read again and again.
The spice and dialogue between Luka and Reno made me laugh, shiver and sigh.
The fact that all of the above is wrapped into a book about a band is my cup of tea!
I can’t wait to read more from this Author.
November 26, 2025
This was my very first trans man, boy love book and I am so in love. I can't describe the amount of Queer joy this book gave me. I am so beyond honored to have gotten the opportunity to ARC read this book.
Raz Fox had such a beautiful way of writing this story. The way the story flowed, the contention between the characters, the open door spice-- everything was truly flawless. Such an amazing story. Please do yourself a favor and pick it up!
Raz Fox had such a beautiful way of writing this story. The way the story flowed, the contention between the characters, the open door spice-- everything was truly flawless. Such an amazing story. Please do yourself a favor and pick it up!
November 28, 2025
I absolutely loved Hi-Voltage, the main characters were absolutely adorable. I loved how they remembered each other after 10 years. I got so engrossed in their story and there were some serious moments that pulled at the heart strings. This is now one of my favorite books and I will recommend this book to everyone. It is an amazing read and it did not disappoint. Raz, you did an amazing job and thank you for sharing Reno and Lukas' story with us.
October 23, 2025
The writing simply wasn't for me and the story was just all over the place in a way I didn't enjoy. It read kind of like the kind of fanfic we all wrote when we were 14, where the band member falls in love with us and trusts us with their secrets without knowing anything about us for absolutely no other reason than attraction happening. The premise was good, the characters could have been interesting, but I feel like it could use more work, and a bit of more realistic pacing.
December 21, 2025
I loved this book! The characters were complex and really spoke to a part of my own experience as a fellow queer person. The plot was continually pulling me in and the writing was both beautiful and engaging. As a music lover, I ate this up. Five stars. I need people to read this so I can fangirl. Thank you so much to the author for my arc of this book!
October 27, 2025
Thank you to the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I had such a wonderful time with this book, it was so, so much fun! From start to finish, I was drawn in. All the characters, not just the main characters, are complex and interesting and created a rich story with so much to love!
The stars of the show are of course our main characters, Luka and Reno. On their own, they both have so much to love about them, even though they also have their flaws. Getting to watch their journey of meeting to getting to know each other was so sweet and funny and incredible all at once. I also loved seeing their own individual circles of friends, who also all felt quite fleshed out, even if their page time was limited.
There was a very well-done balance between the lighter moments of the story, the ~spicier~ scenes, and the more tense and dramatic moments that help this book feel like it’s constantly moving at a good pace even with its longer page count. I was never bored while reading!
As the author has said, this is a book which is about, at its heart, queer and trans joy, and I definitely feel that that is true. Even with the struggles we see the characters face, that is not lost, and there is so much love and care shown between all of our characters which warmed my heart greatly.
All in all, this book was such a great time that I absolutely recommend reading, there is something here to appreciate for everyone! And if there were every more stories in this little universe, I would happily read them and love them.
I had such a wonderful time with this book, it was so, so much fun! From start to finish, I was drawn in. All the characters, not just the main characters, are complex and interesting and created a rich story with so much to love!
The stars of the show are of course our main characters, Luka and Reno. On their own, they both have so much to love about them, even though they also have their flaws. Getting to watch their journey of meeting to getting to know each other was so sweet and funny and incredible all at once. I also loved seeing their own individual circles of friends, who also all felt quite fleshed out, even if their page time was limited.
There was a very well-done balance between the lighter moments of the story, the ~spicier~ scenes, and the more tense and dramatic moments that help this book feel like it’s constantly moving at a good pace even with its longer page count. I was never bored while reading!
As the author has said, this is a book which is about, at its heart, queer and trans joy, and I definitely feel that that is true. Even with the struggles we see the characters face, that is not lost, and there is so much love and care shown between all of our characters which warmed my heart greatly.
All in all, this book was such a great time that I absolutely recommend reading, there is something here to appreciate for everyone! And if there were every more stories in this little universe, I would happily read them and love them.
December 29, 2025
I want to start of with how much I loved the trans MC story and how this book handled queerness and gender nonconformity. A Rockstar x Fan romance that is full of found family, hidden romance and just unapologetically queer.
September 28, 2025
As a huge visual kei fan, I’m always excited to read these rock star books. The cover really drew me in and made me want to read it and find out more about the characters. I enjoyed both Luka and Reno. They are both strong characters and the dialogue between them is fun, dynamic and cute. Luka isn’t just a fanboy. He stands on his own feet when it comes to Reno and their relationship. You can feel the love between them throughout the whole book. I was really rooting for them!
I LOVED the conflict of the last 20% of the book and the ending was SO perfect. I do wish there was a bit more conflict in the first 80%. Things felt a bit too easy for them and especially for Luka. Since he didn’t really have any reason to stay where he was. I wish we got more of Luka’s creative process since Reno and his music gets a lot of focus. (I would’ve loved a scene with Reno learning about Luka’s art as he draws!) The only other part that wasn’t my cup of tea was the texting images. It was just a bit hard for me to read. The text bubbles are in different colors but I mostly read on my kindle that is black X white. I got confused when multiple people were in a text conversation at the same time, but that happened once. I don’t use a lot of text-talk and haven’t really been in many group chats. So this could be a me problem with it being unfamiliar. I think if they just picked up the phone and talked, we could’ve gotten a bit more characterization from them. My only other nip-tip was that people said exactly the right thing, which could be me being completely jaded and wanting more conflict. (I mean, who wouldn't want a world where everyone said exactly the right thing? Clearly me, haha) Over all, these were minor things.
This is the first book I read in a LONG time that had me hooked. I usually read just before bed, but with Hi-Voltage I would squeeze reading throughout my day. A few pages here, another page there. Any moment I could I was reading to see what happen between these two. Again, the ending was so perfect. I recommend Hi-voltage to anyone who wants to enjoy a low-risk fun time with a good number of love scenes.
I LOVED the conflict of the last 20% of the book and the ending was SO perfect. I do wish there was a bit more conflict in the first 80%. Things felt a bit too easy for them and especially for Luka. Since he didn’t really have any reason to stay where he was. I wish we got more of Luka’s creative process since Reno and his music gets a lot of focus. (I would’ve loved a scene with Reno learning about Luka’s art as he draws!) The only other part that wasn’t my cup of tea was the texting images. It was just a bit hard for me to read. The text bubbles are in different colors but I mostly read on my kindle that is black X white. I got confused when multiple people were in a text conversation at the same time, but that happened once. I don’t use a lot of text-talk and haven’t really been in many group chats. So this could be a me problem with it being unfamiliar. I think if they just picked up the phone and talked, we could’ve gotten a bit more characterization from them. My only other nip-tip was that people said exactly the right thing, which could be me being completely jaded and wanting more conflict. (I mean, who wouldn't want a world where everyone said exactly the right thing? Clearly me, haha) Over all, these were minor things.
This is the first book I read in a LONG time that had me hooked. I usually read just before bed, but with Hi-Voltage I would squeeze reading throughout my day. A few pages here, another page there. Any moment I could I was reading to see what happen between these two. Again, the ending was so perfect. I recommend Hi-voltage to anyone who wants to enjoy a low-risk fun time with a good number of love scenes.
September 26, 2025
This story had me laughing, crying and feeling warm fuzzies all the way through. Every one of the characters is so richly written and nuanced, and have their own character flaws that make them uniquely themselves. The thing that really got me the most out of it all though, was the various forms of emotional intimacy, especially between the band members. Even though Reno is the main focus, the other 3 get plenty of attention in various ways and I just couldn't get enough of it.
There are some pretty heavy moments in the story, but it's clear the goal here was trans/LGBTQIA+ joy, and Raz masterfully captures that while not shying away from realistic struggles in trying to make a relationship work between two very different people with very different lives. As a person who also finds themself in a non-traditional lifestyle, it's incredibly refreshing to get the affirmation that it's not just my own little bubble living outside the social norms.
The level to which Raz breaks down parasocial relationships and really helps humanize people is stunning, especially by the book's conclusion. I've struggled a lot with putting people on a pedestal when I was younger and it's so refreshing to have an author who not only understands that pedestal, but works to break it down.
The story is also very spicy at several points 🔥 but it's not all there is to the main characters' interactions; joy, tenderness, affection, playfulness and so much more truly made this a book I struggled to put down. This story is made for the queer community and it accomplishes that goal and then some!
There are some pretty heavy moments in the story, but it's clear the goal here was trans/LGBTQIA+ joy, and Raz masterfully captures that while not shying away from realistic struggles in trying to make a relationship work between two very different people with very different lives. As a person who also finds themself in a non-traditional lifestyle, it's incredibly refreshing to get the affirmation that it's not just my own little bubble living outside the social norms.
The level to which Raz breaks down parasocial relationships and really helps humanize people is stunning, especially by the book's conclusion. I've struggled a lot with putting people on a pedestal when I was younger and it's so refreshing to have an author who not only understands that pedestal, but works to break it down.
The story is also very spicy at several points 🔥 but it's not all there is to the main characters' interactions; joy, tenderness, affection, playfulness and so much more truly made this a book I struggled to put down. This story is made for the queer community and it accomplishes that goal and then some!
December 12, 2025
Omg! This book was sooooo good! I could not put it down and read the whole thing in one sitting!
Reno is the BIGGEST golden retriever there ever was and he might be one of my new favorite characters!
What a sweetheart!!!!
The story is sweet and heart warming, the characters are funny, meddling and just so lovable! Especially Reno‘s mom with all her motherly wisdom 🥰
This is a feel-good read that just goes to show that good things do happen to those who deserve it (even if they are a bit skeptical at first 😉)
Can definitely recommend!
Reno is the BIGGEST golden retriever there ever was and he might be one of my new favorite characters!
What a sweetheart!!!!
The story is sweet and heart warming, the characters are funny, meddling and just so lovable! Especially Reno‘s mom with all her motherly wisdom 🥰
This is a feel-good read that just goes to show that good things do happen to those who deserve it (even if they are a bit skeptical at first 😉)
Can definitely recommend!
November 8, 2025
Hard to review this. I think that even though it ended up not being for me, someone else might enjoy it. It was a little hard in the beginning to follow the timeline. I had to go back and forth to understand what was happening.
The texting confused me often, as it was hard to see who was actually texting each other.
Also, the plot was a little fangirl-ish.. A band member you adore noticing you and suddenly you're texting constantly? Yeah. a fangirl's dream.
However, I do think that this could be good with a bit of work. The plot shouldn't have been so rushed. It all went really fast. They barely even know each other. They have no reason for the attraction, nothing in common it seems, and yeah... with a better reason to find each other and a little more time for the characters to get to know each other, it could have been better, I'm sure!
The most realistic about this was the fandom and their insane tweets. Fandoms are scary lmao.
The texting confused me often, as it was hard to see who was actually texting each other.
Also, the plot was a little fangirl-ish.. A band member you adore noticing you and suddenly you're texting constantly? Yeah. a fangirl's dream.
However, I do think that this could be good with a bit of work. The plot shouldn't have been so rushed. It all went really fast. They barely even know each other. They have no reason for the attraction, nothing in common it seems, and yeah... with a better reason to find each other and a little more time for the characters to get to know each other, it could have been better, I'm sure!
The most realistic about this was the fandom and their insane tweets. Fandoms are scary lmao.
November 27, 2025
This ARC was freely provided to me by the author via Booksprout - thank you!
Please keep in mind that although ARCs don't often change much, if at all, before publishing, it is possible, and this review (and any quotes, if included) is based on an advanced copy.
Find Hi-Voltage out on November 28, 2025!
This is a queer and trans love letter to queer and transness, to fandom and especially bandom - and it's beautiful. It somehow blends lifelong pining, and multiple uHaul emojis. Never, before this, have I wanted to email an author my entire reading journal and point, shouting, "Look what you've done! I can't handle it! You've ruined me!"
I intentionally keep my few five star ratings tight to my chest. I've been burned countless times by hype and others' priorities and tastes differing from mine... But as a baby queer, a gremlet who grew up amidst fields of corn and soybeans, who was driven hours to go see My Chem, Blink, some others - who bummed full ass adults smokes when I was a teen wandering around Warped Tour - this was... Otherworldly. We'll not even talk about the queer longing, the T4T-ness, the beautifully varied types of relationships. I'd be here all day, and I need time to decompress after finishing this story. Because, wow.
Now, onto the review proper.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3)
The only reason I didn't finish this in a day is because of outside obligations, and the entire time I was parted from this story was misery. I have so much to say; I absolutely will not be able to write it all down here.
The descriptions of live music, of the crowds, of bandom, gave me chills. It's spot on. As A Bone in His Teeth (Kellan Graves) made me crave salt, this made tears surface over missing live music and the community that comes along with it.
Everything - and I mean everything - in this felt so authentic. (Caveat: I can not, and am not, speaking for non-white ethnicities; not my lane. The author's note mentions sensitivity readers, though, and I hope they did well.) I know at this point that I'm banging the same drum over and over again, but it's good. I'm talking, I ate this up in eight hours over two main sessions.
We've got QPRs (Queer Platonic Relationships), we've got trans men, we've got genderqueers, we've got aro rep, mental health rep, we've got healing, there's the overcoming of bad relationships, found family, "Touch My Family And You're Done" rep, there's healthy bio family and there's unhealthy bio family. Multi-pronoun folks. I could go on, but this is going to be so long already.
I enjoyed so much seeing Reno and Luka's journey together. It's not perfect - sometimes messy as hell - but it is told with so much love. It felt very real, and I will be keeping it close to my heart. Maybe it's a Midwestern queer kid thing. Maybe it's a fandom teen thing. It could be a trans thing. It may, plausibly, be a relationship thing - I have a long, epic relationship with my partner, spanning further back than even Luka and Reno. But this really got to me. I don't believe a "perfect audience" is a thing - but I think I may be damn close.
The inclusion of text chains were great, it gave a really interesting insight to all of the characters - not just the main couple. It took me a few to realize some were "green bubbles," because I have an Android phone, but once I did, I was cackling. It always feels fake when authors include texting, show the actual texts itself, and there's no individuality. No typos, all the same voice. They always feel like a work email. I don't know who they're texting, but every single person I message types different. Emojis, sentence format, etc. Fox has so much love for his characters, even their text messages feel unique. I especially adored the exchanges between each main character and the side characters. The entire cast felt so... full.
Beyond that, there's also the inclusion of - as appropriate for the setting - twitter screenshots. (I'll chosen-name twt when Elon chosen-names his daughter.) They're perfection and so authentic it's painful. I can't. I was kicking my feet and screech laughing at points. You'll see. This is like a random on the bus smirking at the pins and patches on my bag in 2025 and saying they like my shoelaces. IYKYK.
I did, unfortunately, find it difficult to keep track of who was who. As intimately as I understand having, and being around folks with, multiple names (online handles or stage names, chosen names, birth/dead names) - I only knew who of Voltage was who from the current scene, and remembering who they were... being? I knew their character, but absolutely couldn't keep up with the different names being used in different contexts. I knew what was stage name, chosen, birth; I could not often connect Name 1 being Name A. This may be a me problem! It's unfortunate, but the characters stand out from each other enough that I wasn't worried. I'm looking forward to re-reads that will help me connect them!
Also, the smut? God. I need more T4T smut in my life. Absolutely killer.
Raz Fox has instantly placed themself in "instant-read" status for me. I'm going to spend the day trying to see if I can budget in the pre-order hardback copy.
Please keep in mind that although ARCs don't often change much, if at all, before publishing, it is possible, and this review (and any quotes, if included) is based on an advanced copy.
Find Hi-Voltage out on November 28, 2025!
"How anyone as beautiful as you can be insecure is beyond me. I should learn photography so I can show you how I see you."
"I look bad in photos."
"Not if I took them."
This is a queer and trans love letter to queer and transness, to fandom and especially bandom - and it's beautiful. It somehow blends lifelong pining, and multiple uHaul emojis. Never, before this, have I wanted to email an author my entire reading journal and point, shouting, "Look what you've done! I can't handle it! You've ruined me!"
I intentionally keep my few five star ratings tight to my chest. I've been burned countless times by hype and others' priorities and tastes differing from mine... But as a baby queer, a gremlet who grew up amidst fields of corn and soybeans, who was driven hours to go see My Chem, Blink, some others - who bummed full ass adults smokes when I was a teen wandering around Warped Tour - this was... Otherworldly. We'll not even talk about the queer longing, the T4T-ness, the beautifully varied types of relationships. I'd be here all day, and I need time to decompress after finishing this story. Because, wow.
Now, onto the review proper.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3)
The only reason I didn't finish this in a day is because of outside obligations, and the entire time I was parted from this story was misery. I have so much to say; I absolutely will not be able to write it all down here.
The descriptions of live music, of the crowds, of bandom, gave me chills. It's spot on. As A Bone in His Teeth (Kellan Graves) made me crave salt, this made tears surface over missing live music and the community that comes along with it.
Everything - and I mean everything - in this felt so authentic. (Caveat: I can not, and am not, speaking for non-white ethnicities; not my lane. The author's note mentions sensitivity readers, though, and I hope they did well.) I know at this point that I'm banging the same drum over and over again, but it's good. I'm talking, I ate this up in eight hours over two main sessions.
We've got QPRs (Queer Platonic Relationships), we've got trans men, we've got genderqueers, we've got aro rep, mental health rep, we've got healing, there's the overcoming of bad relationships, found family, "Touch My Family And You're Done" rep, there's healthy bio family and there's unhealthy bio family. Multi-pronoun folks. I could go on, but this is going to be so long already.
I enjoyed so much seeing Reno and Luka's journey together. It's not perfect - sometimes messy as hell - but it is told with so much love. It felt very real, and I will be keeping it close to my heart. Maybe it's a Midwestern queer kid thing. Maybe it's a fandom teen thing. It could be a trans thing. It may, plausibly, be a relationship thing - I have a long, epic relationship with my partner, spanning further back than even Luka and Reno. But this really got to me. I don't believe a "perfect audience" is a thing - but I think I may be damn close.
The inclusion of text chains were great, it gave a really interesting insight to all of the characters - not just the main couple. It took me a few to realize some were "green bubbles," because I have an Android phone, but once I did, I was cackling. It always feels fake when authors include texting, show the actual texts itself, and there's no individuality. No typos, all the same voice. They always feel like a work email. I don't know who they're texting, but every single person I message types different. Emojis, sentence format, etc. Fox has so much love for his characters, even their text messages feel unique. I especially adored the exchanges between each main character and the side characters. The entire cast felt so... full.
Beyond that, there's also the inclusion of - as appropriate for the setting - twitter screenshots. (I'll chosen-name twt when Elon chosen-names his daughter.) They're perfection and so authentic it's painful. I can't. I was kicking my feet and screech laughing at points. You'll see. This is like a random on the bus smirking at the pins and patches on my bag in 2025 and saying they like my shoelaces. IYKYK.
I did, unfortunately, find it difficult to keep track of who was who. As intimately as I understand having, and being around folks with, multiple names (online handles or stage names, chosen names, birth/dead names) - I only knew who of Voltage was who from the current scene, and remembering who they were... being? I knew their character, but absolutely couldn't keep up with the different names being used in different contexts. I knew what was stage name, chosen, birth; I could not often connect Name 1 being Name A. This may be a me problem! It's unfortunate, but the characters stand out from each other enough that I wasn't worried. I'm looking forward to re-reads that will help me connect them!
Also, the smut? God. I need more T4T smut in my life. Absolutely killer.
Raz Fox has instantly placed themself in "instant-read" status for me. I'm going to spend the day trying to see if I can budget in the pre-order hardback copy.
October 27, 2025
Thank you Raz and team for providing me with an ARC!
Hi-Voltage is genuinely, wonderfully EVERYTHING to me.
In this book Reno and Luka are reunited 10 years after a chance meeting behind a Midwest concert venue. During those 10 years Reno has become even bigger of a rockstar while maintaining a fantasy day dream of having someone by his side through it all. Meanwhile Luka has had a series of shitty relationships that have left him jaded and not a little bit insecure. Despite their different opinions on love and relationships, and the starkly different worlds they come from, Luka and Reno want to make this work between then and they’ll cross oceans to do it. They fall for each other amidst the strain of keeping their relationship secret from the public, Reno’s rabid fans, and a lurking threat from the past. AND EVERY PAGE WAS A JOY TO READ 🥹
This book is first and foremost about happiness. It’s about finding love and joy, and learning to be cared for in ways you didn’t know you needed. While Luka dreams of financial and romantic stability, he balks at Reno’s more honest and open devotion. Reno wants to pour his love into someone he can take care of, but it’s clear watching how he’s treated by his record label that he needs someone watching out for him as well. It was so beautiful to see the pieces of themselves fall together and they fell in love with each other. They gave each other the strength to do difficult things and I want northing more than to have a love like theirs 🥹
That said, they’re both flawed weirdos. As sweet as this book is, it doesn’t shy away from depicting Reno’s obsessive tendencies. The circular thinking they find themself in, the fear that the lies people tell about him might actually be true, even the way he has to break himself down to be more palatable. Reno is clearly, unabashedly neurodivergent and it was such a brutal delight to read. Also apparent was Luka’s anxiety, both in general and specifically regarding the huge moves he was making for Reno. I really enjoyed reading two protagonists with mental health issues fall in love without being “fixed.” It felt so hopeful.
The story is also unabashedly queer!!! Luka is a gay trans man and Reno is a genderqueer bisexual who uses he/they pronouns and likes to wear dresses and make up. Both of their friend groups are also wonderfully queer as well, from Luka’s NB roommate August to Reno’s sapphic best friend Sage. Which of course makes sense, us queers like to stick together :) But it’s not just the characters! Even the relationships themselves are dripping with that complexity that only level 5 queerness can have. Most notably when it comes to Arnaud (aka Zana) the aromantic lead singer of Voltage who has a loving girlfriend and also a meaningful sexual relationship with Reno pre-canon. The book never says it out right but it’s clear that Arnaud and Reno are in a Queer Platonic Relationship and I love it so fucking much. There’s a convo that have at one point about the different ways to love people that had me sobbing, it was so touching and everything I want out of a queer book 🥹😭
There’s a good deal of spice too! While not outright smutty, there are a good handful of sex scenes that were just SO HOT to read. Their first time just about killed me I was NAWT ready for all that. And Luka’s first time topping?? That little hint of fisting that let me know EXACTLY what Raz meant drawing those lines off Luka’s arm 😵💫 In particular I love to see a couple that is both verse AND switch, it was so much fun seeing their sexual dynamic chance from scene to scene. Honestly I think this could have used a few more sex scenes, but that’s prob cause I adore Reno and Luka (Renuka? I think?) so damn much.
ALL THAT SAID, THE THIRD ACT HURT ME DEEPLY. RAZ YOU WILL BE PAYING ME EMOTIONAL DAMAGES WTF MAN 😭 I mean, I loved it. It was such a good culmination of so many things the characters were avoiding, and in the scope of the story was absolutely necessary. Which is not something I often say about the tropes being used! The epilogue though,,, the epilogue made it all worth it 🥹 Raz really captured what it feels like to be at a concert, with the vocalist talking about their dark times and how music got them through it, knowing that so many in the room have gone through the same thing and feel the same way. Ah it was perfect, I def teared up the whole time. What a beautiful ending to a beautiful book.
Honestly I could gush about this book all damn day. Raz gave us such fantastic characters and built them up so thoroughly I never want to leave them behind. I really hope that one day Raz writes more for this Voltage universe he’s created, I would read just about anything he wrote of them. (Please be about Sebastian though, he’s my favorite ☺️🙏🏼).
Hi-Voltage is genuinely, wonderfully EVERYTHING to me.
In this book Reno and Luka are reunited 10 years after a chance meeting behind a Midwest concert venue. During those 10 years Reno has become even bigger of a rockstar while maintaining a fantasy day dream of having someone by his side through it all. Meanwhile Luka has had a series of shitty relationships that have left him jaded and not a little bit insecure. Despite their different opinions on love and relationships, and the starkly different worlds they come from, Luka and Reno want to make this work between then and they’ll cross oceans to do it. They fall for each other amidst the strain of keeping their relationship secret from the public, Reno’s rabid fans, and a lurking threat from the past. AND EVERY PAGE WAS A JOY TO READ 🥹
This book is first and foremost about happiness. It’s about finding love and joy, and learning to be cared for in ways you didn’t know you needed. While Luka dreams of financial and romantic stability, he balks at Reno’s more honest and open devotion. Reno wants to pour his love into someone he can take care of, but it’s clear watching how he’s treated by his record label that he needs someone watching out for him as well. It was so beautiful to see the pieces of themselves fall together and they fell in love with each other. They gave each other the strength to do difficult things and I want northing more than to have a love like theirs 🥹
That said, they’re both flawed weirdos. As sweet as this book is, it doesn’t shy away from depicting Reno’s obsessive tendencies. The circular thinking they find themself in, the fear that the lies people tell about him might actually be true, even the way he has to break himself down to be more palatable. Reno is clearly, unabashedly neurodivergent and it was such a brutal delight to read. Also apparent was Luka’s anxiety, both in general and specifically regarding the huge moves he was making for Reno. I really enjoyed reading two protagonists with mental health issues fall in love without being “fixed.” It felt so hopeful.
The story is also unabashedly queer!!! Luka is a gay trans man and Reno is a genderqueer bisexual who uses he/they pronouns and likes to wear dresses and make up. Both of their friend groups are also wonderfully queer as well, from Luka’s NB roommate August to Reno’s sapphic best friend Sage. Which of course makes sense, us queers like to stick together :) But it’s not just the characters! Even the relationships themselves are dripping with that complexity that only level 5 queerness can have. Most notably when it comes to Arnaud (aka Zana) the aromantic lead singer of Voltage who has a loving girlfriend and also a meaningful sexual relationship with Reno pre-canon. The book never says it out right but it’s clear that Arnaud and Reno are in a Queer Platonic Relationship and I love it so fucking much. There’s a convo that have at one point about the different ways to love people that had me sobbing, it was so touching and everything I want out of a queer book 🥹😭
There’s a good deal of spice too! While not outright smutty, there are a good handful of sex scenes that were just SO HOT to read. Their first time just about killed me I was NAWT ready for all that. And Luka’s first time topping?? That little hint of fisting that let me know EXACTLY what Raz meant drawing those lines off Luka’s arm 😵💫 In particular I love to see a couple that is both verse AND switch, it was so much fun seeing their sexual dynamic chance from scene to scene. Honestly I think this could have used a few more sex scenes, but that’s prob cause I adore Reno and Luka (Renuka? I think?) so damn much.
ALL THAT SAID, THE THIRD ACT HURT ME DEEPLY. RAZ YOU WILL BE PAYING ME EMOTIONAL DAMAGES WTF MAN 😭 I mean, I loved it. It was such a good culmination of so many things the characters were avoiding, and in the scope of the story was absolutely necessary. Which is not something I often say about the tropes being used! The epilogue though,,, the epilogue made it all worth it 🥹 Raz really captured what it feels like to be at a concert, with the vocalist talking about their dark times and how music got them through it, knowing that so many in the room have gone through the same thing and feel the same way. Ah it was perfect, I def teared up the whole time. What a beautiful ending to a beautiful book.
Honestly I could gush about this book all damn day. Raz gave us such fantastic characters and built them up so thoroughly I never want to leave them behind. I really hope that one day Raz writes more for this Voltage universe he’s created, I would read just about anything he wrote of them. (Please be about Sebastian though, he’s my favorite ☺️🙏🏼).
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