Nothing Left but Silence

by Laura Lo Sapio

Sabrina always dreamed of becoming a professional musician alongside her twin brother Alex – until his sudden death shattered everything. Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, she seizes her last chance to attend the prestigious Boston Music College, even if it means severing ties with her parents and charting her own path in life.

Struggling to move forward without Alex, Sabrina navigates her first semester, where she meets River, a famous singer-songwriter teaching one of her courses as a visiting artist. What begins as an unlikely friendship quickly deepens into something more, but Sabrina isn’t the only one carrying the weight of the past.

River knows all too well that love is not to be trusted. He already has everything he thought he recognition, wealth, and the power to have any woman he desires. But is that really enough?

As ambition and old wounds collide, Sabrina and River must confront their pasts and decide whether love is worth the risk or if some scars run too deep.

261 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 28, 2026

About the author

Laura Lo Sapio is a Czech-Italian author and music producer. Based in Spain, she co-founded Yamaha Music School Valencia and Sound Vanguard, a music-for-film studio behind projects for Netflix and Amazon. Her debut novel, Nothing Left but Silence, blends her love of music and literature. Fluent in four languages, Laura brings her international background into contemporary romance that explores trauma, healing, and the blurred lines of morality.

Follow me on:

Instagram @laura_lo_sapio

TikTok @laura.lo.sapio

Reviews

[Kelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a romantic and cute read — but the grief storyline is what really got me.

I loved how Sabrina gets all the good things — love, music, connection — and then out of nowhere her brother’s voice cuts in. It’s gutting, but in a very real way. Grief doesn’t disappear, it just sits alongside the joy, and the book handled that balance so well.

River is basically my perfect MMC — tortured, music star, teacher, emotionally layered, fully realised. You honestly get more of his backstory than hers, which worked for me. The international cast (Prague / Spain / Boston) was a big win, and the found family at uni was lovely.

The second half was a bit rushed and the writing occasionally clunky, but the emotional payoff was worth it. And Sabrina’s arc? Loved it. No tantrums, no dramatic spirals — just a woman recognising her limits, taking the good she’s been given, and choosing herself with maturity and clarity.

Also. The Alanis Morissette Thank You video reference? Elite behaviour.

For the music girlies, the millennial grunge lovers, and anyone who likes their romance with heart, spice, and emotional intelligence.

Thanks to The Book Guild, NetGalley and Laura Lo Sapio for the ARC!

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don’t pick up books that revolve around music/singers or music schools, because a lot of them end up feeling unrealistic. But before requesting this one, I read a bit about the author and realized she actually knows what she’s talking about when it comes to music. That convinced me to step out of my comfort zone, and I’m glad I did.

I really, really liked Sabrina. She’s dealing with so much; grief, survivor’s guilt, family issues, confidence struggles, but she grows beautifully throughout the story. She starts in pure survival mode and slowly blossoms into someone strong, self-assured and ready to live her life the way she deserves.

Now,about River… I loved how supportive he was of Sabrina, how he helped her heal and find her confidence again. I liked how he called her Violet, like this was a little secret just between them. And while all this was awesome, and despite their age gap (him being older) most times I felt like Sabrina was the more mature one aaand I clapped when she called River out or handed him his ass a few times. I'm very glad he caught up by the end though. We started with "man-boy-ish" River that had no clue what to do with all his feelings, and we ended up with real man River who had no problem to tell Sabrina everything he's feeling. Yay :D ^^

The music school setting added a great layer to the story. It wasn’t overwhelming or overly technical, but it grounded the book in a believable way. Spice level: around a 3/5 (there was one scene that made me cringe a tiny bit, I mean... it’s 2025, but oh well). Pacing-wise, everything flowed naturally.

Overall, I think this was a very strong debut. Emotional and beautifully written.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5★)

Thank you NetGalley & The Book Guild for the ARC!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've just finished reading an ARC of Nothing Left But Silence and enjoyed it a lot. I really felt for Sabrina as she was falling in love while dealing with the feelings of loss and guilt.

I would recommend this book to anyone and sill definitely be rereading many times.

[Aish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was beautifully written - I loved how the author explored grief and trauma through music. The romance felt natural and the character growth for Sabrina and River was evident. The author's extensive music knowledge added depth and authenticity to the story. There were parts during the story that felt like they were told more than shown so execution wise, some scenes lacked the emotional impact they were aiming to achieve but for the author's debut novel, this was a solid read - 3.75 stars (and of course, shoutout Boston!)

Thank you to Laura Lo Sapio, The Book Guild, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!

#NothingLeftbutSilence #NetGalley

[nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing Left but Silence was a beautiful read, combining music with love and finding the beauty in hardships of past events in life. The book captured the power of music as a connection, bringing Sabrina close with not only River, but also Alex, allowing his presence to live on through melody and memory. Through this bond, the book beautifully illustrates how music can bridge loss and love, helping Sabrina heal while honoring the past rather than leaving it behind.

I love how River was more than just a famous musician- he was patient and supportive of Sabrina and her struggles and quietly offered guidance without trying to ‘fix’ her. His understanding of pain and his passion for music made their connection feel genuine, with their gradual bond developing through trust, shared creativity, and emotional honesty.