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There’s So Much I Need to Say to You
Taryn Taylor knows the only thing worse than growing up in the shadow of a rock star is gaining your own spotlight-then losing it. She's powerless as she watches the lead singer of their indie band destroy everything they've worked so hard for, right on the cusp of super-stardom.
Grieving her famous dad at the age of four was heart-breaking, but this is soul-crushing.
Barely out of high school, Taryn struggles to hold onto her dreams and navigate the complicated, secret relationship she has with her bassist, Shay. But Taryn never wanted to fall in love and after spending so much energy seeking the limelight, she might be blinded by it.
It's time to grow up and face the music. But betrayal hovers close by, and the hurts of Taryn's past are far from over.
Raw, funny, and unforgettable, There's So Much I Need to Say to You is an #OwnStories LGBTQIA2S+ novel about losing your way and finding your truth.
Grieving her famous dad at the age of four was heart-breaking, but this is soul-crushing.
Barely out of high school, Taryn struggles to hold onto her dreams and navigate the complicated, secret relationship she has with her bassist, Shay. But Taryn never wanted to fall in love and after spending so much energy seeking the limelight, she might be blinded by it.
It's time to grow up and face the music. But betrayal hovers close by, and the hurts of Taryn's past are far from over.
Raw, funny, and unforgettable, There's So Much I Need to Say to You is an #OwnStories LGBTQIA2S+ novel about losing your way and finding your truth.
294 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2021
1617 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 1, 2021
So this book I feel is a very typical debut novel. In all the ways you might expect a debut to go.
There's So Much I Need to Say to You is seen through the eyes of Taryn, who is the guitarist of a band named Pause for Effect. (Which is a pretty solid band name.) Taryn is secretly dating Shay, the bassist. But the band is going through some rough times as their singer wants to do some solo work, and other members want to spend time to themselves- leaving Taryn all alone musically as well as romantically. So she needs to figure out who she is outside of those things to possibly bring everything back together.
I liked the concept of this book a lot, and I've mentioned before how I books about musicians appeals to me with my past as a touring musician. So I had high hopes for this book despite never hearing about it or the author before seeing the book on NetGalley.
But if there is a hiccup a debut book can have, I feel like this book suffers from it.
To begins, to me it seemed like this book was a whole lot of tell and not a lot of show. This book is in first person present with Taryn as the narrator, but events were always seen to be told to us that they were happing by Taryn instead of seeing Taryn's perspective as events happen. And that's a subtle difference in storytelling but it makes a big difference in practice.
There were also a lot of pacing issues in this book- when things happened and the space between events. And the ending felt all very rushed together and all of that really took me out of the book several times.
But what I did like about the book I really liked- the characters were good and the emotions were also depicted pretty well- this book really did make me feel for the losses Taryn was facing and decisions she had to make. Also this book addressed some serious topics pretty well like hidden relationships and loss. It was those elements that kept me reading despite my issues with the book.
I'm going to keep an open mind towards this author's work in the future as I think there is potential there especially with the character work. But this debut had some definite speed bumps for me. 2.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and BookBuzz.net for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
There's So Much I Need to Say to You is seen through the eyes of Taryn, who is the guitarist of a band named Pause for Effect. (Which is a pretty solid band name.) Taryn is secretly dating Shay, the bassist. But the band is going through some rough times as their singer wants to do some solo work, and other members want to spend time to themselves- leaving Taryn all alone musically as well as romantically. So she needs to figure out who she is outside of those things to possibly bring everything back together.
I liked the concept of this book a lot, and I've mentioned before how I books about musicians appeals to me with my past as a touring musician. So I had high hopes for this book despite never hearing about it or the author before seeing the book on NetGalley.
But if there is a hiccup a debut book can have, I feel like this book suffers from it.
To begins, to me it seemed like this book was a whole lot of tell and not a lot of show. This book is in first person present with Taryn as the narrator, but events were always seen to be told to us that they were happing by Taryn instead of seeing Taryn's perspective as events happen. And that's a subtle difference in storytelling but it makes a big difference in practice.
There were also a lot of pacing issues in this book- when things happened and the space between events. And the ending felt all very rushed together and all of that really took me out of the book several times.
But what I did like about the book I really liked- the characters were good and the emotions were also depicted pretty well- this book really did make me feel for the losses Taryn was facing and decisions she had to make. Also this book addressed some serious topics pretty well like hidden relationships and loss. It was those elements that kept me reading despite my issues with the book.
I'm going to keep an open mind towards this author's work in the future as I think there is potential there especially with the character work. But this debut had some definite speed bumps for me. 2.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and BookBuzz.net for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
October 29, 2021
A sign that this is a great book is that it took me hours to figure out what to say in this review. From start to finish, you can't help but cheer on Taryn. The reader is able to make this character part of the reader's life right away. It is within only a couple of chapters and Taryn's happiness will be central to your own peace of mind.
A brilliantly paced book that puts the reader deep into the music scene. What the reader also grasps quickly is that love is complicated but young love is very tricky. Taryn and Shay are so much more than bandmates but how much more? For that answer, you have to read this amazing book.
The characters are rich and full. There are some very funny lines in this book too. The imagery is strong and gripping. A reader can't be more than halfway through this book without wondering aloud, 'What will happen next??'
A superb book that deals with love, accepting grief, and the intricacies of the celebrity lifestyle. Compelling, emotional, and well written, this is a book for 2021. Recommended to every LGBTQ+ reader. Recommended to readers who enjoy rock fiction. Recommended to fans of good love stories. Just a great book.
Disclaimer: I bought a copy on Amazon CA.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
A brilliantly paced book that puts the reader deep into the music scene. What the reader also grasps quickly is that love is complicated but young love is very tricky. Taryn and Shay are so much more than bandmates but how much more? For that answer, you have to read this amazing book.
The characters are rich and full. There are some very funny lines in this book too. The imagery is strong and gripping. A reader can't be more than halfway through this book without wondering aloud, 'What will happen next??'
A superb book that deals with love, accepting grief, and the intricacies of the celebrity lifestyle. Compelling, emotional, and well written, this is a book for 2021. Recommended to every LGBTQ+ reader. Recommended to readers who enjoy rock fiction. Recommended to fans of good love stories. Just a great book.
Disclaimer: I bought a copy on Amazon CA.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
March 20, 2022
this book was a touch outside my normal genres but i absolutely loved it. it has a wlw main character which is always a plus, and that's what drew me in. i didn't expect the rest - the rawness of processing grief and love and loss. i literally cannot recommend this book enough, but here are some of my favorite quotes to convince you to read it
~
"As time passes, the people you love die again and again: when you think of them, when you see their photograph, when you hear their laugh in a crowd. Grief and love are intermixed. The pure light of love doesn’t come without the darkness of grief."
~
"We’ve kissed each other a hundred times tonight, but only in our minds, with our glances, in the tender touch of our hands."
~
"We have all, each of us, loved and lost: a mother, a father, a husband. I remind myself not to just focus on what they left us, but who their absence inspired us to become."
~
many thanks to netgalley and bookbuzz.net for sending me an arc of this wonderful book!
~
"As time passes, the people you love die again and again: when you think of them, when you see their photograph, when you hear their laugh in a crowd. Grief and love are intermixed. The pure light of love doesn’t come without the darkness of grief."
~
"We’ve kissed each other a hundred times tonight, but only in our minds, with our glances, in the tender touch of our hands."
~
"We have all, each of us, loved and lost: a mother, a father, a husband. I remind myself not to just focus on what they left us, but who their absence inspired us to become."
~
many thanks to netgalley and bookbuzz.net for sending me an arc of this wonderful book!
September 24, 2021
Some tough topics are addressed in this plot - hiding sexuality while performing in a successful band, unsure how the fans will react; friends for years, building their band to only have the lead vocal bail to do a solo album; growing up.
This book just wasn't for me - the voice didn't work for me.
This book just wasn't for me - the voice didn't work for me.
November 21, 2021
When I first saw this book, I got intrigued by it because it has two of the things I love: Music (or in this case a band) and LGBTQIA+ main characters, so I thought why not give it a try, you know? I didn't exactly knew what to expect when I started reading it because I still was a little bit skeptical about the plot, but it turns out that I really like it!
The premise is good and it gives us exactly what was promised on the sinopse however, there were times that I thought the writing was just being, in a way, too boring especially when it came to the Parker situation… I really don't see what was his purpose in the book (I mean, I know that he was there to cause some drama and etcetera, but other than that, I really don't know why he even was at the book as a whole).
Another two things I didn't necessarily like was that: 1) the main romance was a bit of a disappointment… I mean, Shay (the romantic interest and bassist of the band) barely had any scenes with Taryn (the main character and guitarist of the band) and those she had were mostly with the band or just mentions of her name. I think that the author could've explored their romance more.
And 2) There were lots of time jumps during the book, but it wasn't very explicit how much - in one or two chapters there was more specific information, but mostly I either had to do the maths or I'd just ignore it - so that made it a bit difficult to understand not only the time jumps but also some events that either were happening or had happened in the past.
I know that most of this review consist more about the things I didn't like, but I promise you that - once I got over those things - I really did enjoy reading it.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced e-ARC provided by Booksirens for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
The premise is good and it gives us exactly what was promised on the sinopse however, there were times that I thought the writing was just being, in a way, too boring especially when it came to the Parker situation… I really don't see what was his purpose in the book (I mean, I know that he was there to cause some drama and etcetera, but other than that, I really don't know why he even was at the book as a whole).
Another two things I didn't necessarily like was that: 1) the main romance was a bit of a disappointment… I mean, Shay (the romantic interest and bassist of the band) barely had any scenes with Taryn (the main character and guitarist of the band) and those she had were mostly with the band or just mentions of her name. I think that the author could've explored their romance more.
And 2) There were lots of time jumps during the book, but it wasn't very explicit how much - in one or two chapters there was more specific information, but mostly I either had to do the maths or I'd just ignore it - so that made it a bit difficult to understand not only the time jumps but also some events that either were happening or had happened in the past.
I know that most of this review consist more about the things I didn't like, but I promise you that - once I got over those things - I really did enjoy reading it.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced e-ARC provided by Booksirens for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
September 26, 2021
This novel is about Shay and Taryn, both members of the band Pause for Effect. They are also in a relationship with each other, which they have done a good job of hiding from the public (they are both women). After their latest successful tour, Parker, the lead singer, decides to go solo. Shay, a talented photographer, wants to spend several months traveling the world with her camera. Taryn, reluctantly, decides not to go with her. Is the band dead? Is Taryn's relationship with Shay also in the past tense?
While Shay is gallivanting around the world, Taryn meets Violette, a very sophisticated French woman, They sleep together. Taryn impulsively decides to follow Violette to Paris, to officially break up with her. After several months, Shay returns to New York City for an exhibition of her photos. Parker is also there, attempting to make amends for some of his past actions. Does the band get back together? Do Taryn and Shay get back together?
This is a really good story about relationship and the music business. It can be about any type of relationship in the public eye. It may be marketed as an LGBTQ novel, but the same-sex part is a minor part of the story. Yes, it is very much worth reading.
While Shay is gallivanting around the world, Taryn meets Violette, a very sophisticated French woman, They sleep together. Taryn impulsively decides to follow Violette to Paris, to officially break up with her. After several months, Shay returns to New York City for an exhibition of her photos. Parker is also there, attempting to make amends for some of his past actions. Does the band get back together? Do Taryn and Shay get back together?
This is a really good story about relationship and the music business. It can be about any type of relationship in the public eye. It may be marketed as an LGBTQ novel, but the same-sex part is a minor part of the story. Yes, it is very much worth reading.
October 25, 2021
The novel is a light-hearted, coming-of-age story that tells the journey of a group of high school friends navigating the music industry. The author does a good job at illustrating the naivety of the group who obviously is not ready for stardom and finds themselves in the spotlight too quickly. The novel proves that navigating old friendships and romantic relationships along with a new, successful music career creates a great deal of stress for all four band members. The novel also provides a sense of aimless wondering that many early adults may experience, especially when their first career choice seems jeopardized.
While the characters are likeable and unique, their relationships with each other could have been developed more. I would have liked to have understood their history with each other so that I could grasp the conflicts between them more poignantly. Also, the novel seemed to hit its climax a little too early. Overall, if the author’s aim is to remind us of our indecisiveness, insecurity, and innocence as young adults, the author succeeds well.
While the characters are likeable and unique, their relationships with each other could have been developed more. I would have liked to have understood their history with each other so that I could grasp the conflicts between them more poignantly. Also, the novel seemed to hit its climax a little too early. Overall, if the author’s aim is to remind us of our indecisiveness, insecurity, and innocence as young adults, the author succeeds well.
October 6, 2021
A good read.
I was really looking forward to reading this since it has a lot of themes I enjoy. We meet young adult Taryn, who is following her dead father’s footsteps and becoming a famous guitarist. When she breaks up with her girlfriend and ends up back at her mom’s place, we learn there’s some real life family drama all carried out with a mom who collects Princess Diana memorabilia and a sister who is a make up artist / youtuber. There is a lot of pressure on Taryn’s shoulders, brought on by Taryn, mostly. It was interesting to see how this family worked together to close the door on some past hurts. The author touches on many relatable family issues within the story. My favorite dynamic was Taryn and her sister Gwen, I think the author pulled off the sibling relationship perfectly. It’s a good read that kept me turning the pages.
I was provided a free ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I was really looking forward to reading this since it has a lot of themes I enjoy. We meet young adult Taryn, who is following her dead father’s footsteps and becoming a famous guitarist. When she breaks up with her girlfriend and ends up back at her mom’s place, we learn there’s some real life family drama all carried out with a mom who collects Princess Diana memorabilia and a sister who is a make up artist / youtuber. There is a lot of pressure on Taryn’s shoulders, brought on by Taryn, mostly. It was interesting to see how this family worked together to close the door on some past hurts. The author touches on many relatable family issues within the story. My favorite dynamic was Taryn and her sister Gwen, I think the author pulled off the sibling relationship perfectly. It’s a good read that kept me turning the pages.
I was provided a free ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2021
An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It took me a few chapters to get into the book. Lots of information and characters to proces but once I got into it, I was eager to read more. Taryn goes on an entire journey in this book and I was with her every step of the way. I wondered the same things she wondered and I like that this book was her view on the world around her. The wlw love story isn't the only main story in the book and it's great to see how we get a glimpse of the different relationships in Taryn's life. It's a coming of age book about first love but also about friendship, unconditional sibling love and mourning the loss of a parent.
It took me a few chapters to get into the book. Lots of information and characters to proces but once I got into it, I was eager to read more. Taryn goes on an entire journey in this book and I was with her every step of the way. I wondered the same things she wondered and I like that this book was her view on the world around her. The wlw love story isn't the only main story in the book and it's great to see how we get a glimpse of the different relationships in Taryn's life. It's a coming of age book about first love but also about friendship, unconditional sibling love and mourning the loss of a parent.
October 1, 2021
This book seemed like it was going to be exactly up my alley. It had so many elements that I love in books- it was sapphic, a band, lots of drama but it just fell short repeatedly. It had potential but it just didn't live up to it in my opinion. The pacing felt very off and none of the characters had enough depth or personality for me to connect to and I still can't decide if I dislike Taryn or Shay more, neither did anything for me.
Overall this was okay and I managed to finish it but I probably won't remember it for long, unfortunately. It was a good premise that just didn't work for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Overall this was okay and I managed to finish it but I probably won't remember it for long, unfortunately. It was a good premise that just didn't work for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2021
Couldn’t put it down
I actually liked this book a lot better than I expected mostly because initially the pacing was slow and then swift at times. In the end, the pacing actually made sense and I really loved the way it played out.
The characters are all gripping, especially Taryn. She’s one of the more unique and complex I’ve ever read. She’s vulnerable, talented and unsure of herself yet completely sure of herself. Her confusion about growing up feels genuine and the parts that were fun, were truly enjoyable to experience with her. I read the book in two days. This is definately worth the read.
I actually liked this book a lot better than I expected mostly because initially the pacing was slow and then swift at times. In the end, the pacing actually made sense and I really loved the way it played out.
The characters are all gripping, especially Taryn. She’s one of the more unique and complex I’ve ever read. She’s vulnerable, talented and unsure of herself yet completely sure of herself. Her confusion about growing up feels genuine and the parts that were fun, were truly enjoyable to experience with her. I read the book in two days. This is definately worth the read.
October 17, 2021
Heart-warming!
I can’t believe this is a debut novel, to be honest. It’s so well written and carefully edited! I didn’t expect the story to have such a strong lesbian lead character with such a sense of humour! I enjoyed the sarcastic replies to bits and the sisters’ dialogue is absolutely hysterical. What I really found creative are the names used throughout the book and especially the name of the band “Pause For Effect”. Wonderful!
The story is very positive and deals delicately with how complicated relationships can be and the impediments lesbians have to get over in the current society. A delightful coming of age novel!
I can’t believe this is a debut novel, to be honest. It’s so well written and carefully edited! I didn’t expect the story to have such a strong lesbian lead character with such a sense of humour! I enjoyed the sarcastic replies to bits and the sisters’ dialogue is absolutely hysterical. What I really found creative are the names used throughout the book and especially the name of the band “Pause For Effect”. Wonderful!
The story is very positive and deals delicately with how complicated relationships can be and the impediments lesbians have to get over in the current society. A delightful coming of age novel!
March 12, 2022
I received this ARC for free, through booksirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters felt watered down and like they didn't have a life outside of the main character's life for most of the book. I feel like it frequently happened where things that needed to be described barely had any description.
There's so much i need to say to you was cute and at times funny and had other redeeming qualities that made e not totally hate it, but it was one of those really easy to read books that are hard to pick up again after you put it down.
The characters felt watered down and like they didn't have a life outside of the main character's life for most of the book. I feel like it frequently happened where things that needed to be described barely had any description.
There's so much i need to say to you was cute and at times funny and had other redeeming qualities that made e not totally hate it, but it was one of those really easy to read books that are hard to pick up again after you put it down.
November 9, 2021
Very well written. Great character development. What really takes the cake is it’s a band that loses its way but then finds their journey is meant to be taken together as it always had been. Add another book to my favorite list.
September 2, 2022
I really liked book and it was a fairly quick read. Young love, Taryn discovering her own identity and what that means for her band and her relationship. I thoroughly enjoyed the witty humor sprinkled throughout this book. I look forward to reading what this writer does next.
October 4, 2021
Quite a debut. The author's voice is defined, characters are relatable, and narrative moves forward quickly. Good stuff.
October 5, 2021
There’s so much to say …
It’s not often a book is able to make you feel a range of emotions … this one does it effortlessly. Definitely worth the read!
It’s not often a book is able to make you feel a range of emotions … this one does it effortlessly. Definitely worth the read!
October 6, 2021
This book is a must-read!
October 26, 2021
The only complaint I have about this book is that I’m not able to have Pause For Effect’s music playing in the background while reading.
September 24, 2021
This book encapsulated the true essence of a coming of age story, a queer revolutionary love, and a hold on to the edge of your seats plot twist. Tell is comical, witty, and captivating. A must read, a true piece of queer/ lesbian fiction, a memorable one at that!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews