This is a very hard book to rate, as podcast books usually are. They skirt the line between rehashing content we've already heard and adding new information, which I suppose is always the issue with written adaptations. But I feel like The Infinite Noise kind of both fails and succeeds as an adaptation?

This book is a retelling of the Caleb and Adam storyline from the first two seasons of the podcast, from the point of view of the two of them. I loved the depth it went into with these characters, their relationship, mental health issues and abilities as well as regular teenage problems. I truly empathized with Adam and his mental health issues (depressed wrecks ahoy) and thought it was extremely well and carefully done. I loved their banter, and how their characters and voices shine from the pages. Their relationship is straight up adorable in here and reading about these two adorable disasters in love was just heartwarming.

The issue is that centering this story on these two characters accidentally cuts out most of the plot of the podcast, since they don't interact with it much. There are very few scenes of Caleb's sessions with dr. Bright, and the ones that are there are cut down a lot. "What if the X-Men, instead of becoming superheroes, decided to spend some time in therapy?" is a great tagline for the podcast, but it just doesn't work for this book. As a big fan of the podcast, while reading, I always felt like something was missing, especially during the sessions themselves. So while this story enhances the original characters, it also cuts down on the interaction with the canon, which I'd say isn't great, especially for a book that doesn't have much else going on.

Plus the ending was just too abrupt. While nearing the end, I kept thinking "are they gonna do the...?" and the answer is no, the book ends before then. Which means very late into the book it dumps several new and major characters. What even is pacing, am I right? I also had issues with the constant jumping between povs and the infuriatingly short chapters. There was one place in the book where it was used to amazing effect, and the rest was just mess.

So, if I have so many issues, why 4 stars? Because the characters and the relationship were just that strong. I loved reading about them and their friends, and I want to see Lauren Shippen grow as a novelist (since it's obvious from her other projects she's an incredible writer). Especially since the next book is about Damien, whom I, despite my best efforts, love.

The Infinite Noise is a kind of meet-cute of a book that resolves its conflicts a little too quickly. I liked the descriptions of Caleb's powers, especially when they overwhelmed him, and I liked his developing relationship with Adam. Adam's problems didn't really seem to be as addressed as Caleb's, but that might be further discussed more in the podcast or in future books.

I think I was hoping to feel more of an emotional connection to the two main characters than I did. The ending kinda just petered out to me, but I am still intrigued about the podcast. Maybe listening to it and then rereading this would have more of an impact on me then.

Overall it was a decent read, and it's always nice to see LGBTQA representation and discussions on mental issues in books.

this story was amazing!! while the ebook was hard to get into, i recently read it on audio and it blew me away. sci fi gay novels 😍

I read this book without having known about nor listened to the podcast it is based on. I liked the unique take on superheroes and the therapy aspect of the Atypicals’ lives. The romance was cute and I adored the discussion of mental health. My main gripe with this book is the convience of several events in this novel and the pacing. I don’t think I’ll be continuing in the series.

This is the story of Caleb - football star, popular kid, and extreme empath - and Adam, the not-so-popular, gay kid who doesn't have a lot of friends. This is a love story, yes, but it is also about the emotions that are felt so strongly by Caleb and Adam. Oh, and there's something sci-fi (?) and not altogether benign going on with Adam's parents' research projects...but I think that thread is introduced and then left dangling. I'd like to give this 4 stars, but can only give it 3 with a clear conscience.

Caleb is an empath. He feels the emotions of others and it can become overwhelming. At first, he doesn't know exactly what's happening and can't separate his own feelings from everyone else's. He starts seeing a therapist who works with other 'atypicals' and is able to name his issue and deal with it...somewhat.

Adam gets bullied. A lot. And he has a crush on Caleb. He doesn't have friends, but he does have crushing depression. He also has scientist parents who do research for a hospital and also for some company (group?), but maybe not any more? That last part was a little confusing to me.

So, all in all, this was a good book. I like the Caleb/Adam storyline. The other parts were not so clear. 3/4 of the way into the book, the reader finds out that there are numerous other 'atypicals' who all see the same therapist; Caleb and Adam even befriend one of them. Adam's parents' relationship to the atypicals is also introduced and then...nothing. I feel like there were two storylines and one didn't get enough airtime to feel like part of the same book. Also, the main bully uses a homophobic slur against Adam, but then has no issue with a teammate and friend coming out as gay. I don't think that would happen.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

It's not my favorite genre BUT it's a really really cute and good reading. I love Caleb and Adam. It's a story about human and kindness. Just a good feeling about all of this book. It's not easy to be a teenager but it's really not easy to be an extraordinary teenager. The better choice it's not the easy one. And sometimes we need to have good friends or just one person perfect for you on your side.

I love the concept of this book – contemporary with a twist is almost always a winner for me. I’d say this one is a solid 3.5 stars for me; the romance was very cute, the ‘super power’ aspect was really interesting and unique, however, I think we potentially were in need of a little more plot. I understand this is to be the first book in a series, and that it also connects to a podcast, but I found it a little repetitive, and the drama became sort of…annoying? I don’t necessarily think it was unrealistic to the teenage experience (empath powers aside) but it ended up being a bit melodramatic, I think it just needed one more big plot point. Bonus points for LGBT+ rep!

Going into this book, I didn't know it is based off a podcast, and I thought that it was a school of super-powered kids. Instead, it is a single high schooler with an ability that he sees a therapist about and must keep it a secret from his classmates. At the start, I was a little disappointed that my original thought was not the case, but I really enjoyed where this book went.
It was fascinating to learn about Caleb's empath powers, but I also didn't feel disappointed when we switched to Adam's POV. I think the discussions on mental illness were done well, although I think a little more discussion on Adam's depression could've helped the book's message along.
The chemistry between the leads was really good, and I really liked the other atypical who was introduced late in the book, and I was actually hoping one of the sequels would follow her, but it looks like that's not the case.
Overall, this was a great start in a unique world, and I'm excited to see where the sequels go.

I think it is very difficult to write a book from a podcast. Who is the audience? New to the series? Listeners? This is helped by Shippen as the author and creator of the podcast and she truly knows her characters. Still, I couldn't help but feel like this is either a starter book or something was missing.

It took me a bit to get through this. And several times, I had to set it down to breathe. The writing was lush and beautiful. I was amazed at how well she made me feel what her character was feeling. I don't read fan magazines, or other writings that start out online, so I was not familiar with any of the characters. I still found it very enjoyable.

Thanks Net Galley for the preview!

I really enjoyed Caleb and Adam's story! The empath ability brought a unique perspective to high school and first love. Caleb in another story would have been a jock who did not care to reach out to others. Giving him access to everyone's feelings showed a new side and glimpse into how everyone of us felt in high school. Adam was a mystery for a lot of the beginning of the book. I was glad to learn more about him as the story went on but the book ended with me having a lot of unanswered questions. I'm wondering if the author is leaving a sequel possibility open or if we are meant to wonder. I wish we would have seen a moment where they exchange I love you's for the first time but I think they both know how each other feels.

I was tempted to give this book four stars, as I adored The Bright Sessions, a podcast where we first meet Caleb and Adam, but I tried to be objective while reading as a standalone without that prior knowledge. Without the background, this is a sweet high school m/m romance (kind of like a more intense version of Heartstopper by Alice Oseman) with some super random superpowers and vague villains thrown in.
I assume it is the first in the series, so we will get to learn more about empath Caleb, his therapist Dr Bright who knows more than she's letting on, mindreader Chloe, homeless veteran Frank and Adam's mysterious scientist parents.
I did appreciate that Adam's experience of depression is treated delicately and with the same weight as the powers that Caleb has.
All in all, I enjoyed this, but I would definitely recommend listening to The Bright Sessions first.

THOUGHTS

This book was SO hard to put down. I was completely captured and mesmerized by the writing and compelling story, staying up horrendously late just to discover a TINY bit more of the plot. Though there are a FEW things that bothered me by the end of the novel, I TRULY found this to be an extraordinary reading experience.

CONTENT & TRIGGER WARNING: This book contains topics regarding abuse (emotional and physical), anger issues, anxiety (panic attacks), bullying, depression, homophobic slurs, mental illness, self harm (cutting — mentioned), suicide (mentioned) and suicidal thoughts.

THE PROS

A compelling and authentic story, this felt like an entirely new reading experience. Truly, I can’t recall the last time something felt THIS original. I’ve read quite a large number of beautiful stories this year, but they had elements similar to other books or series I’ve read in the past. The Infinite Noise was this ENTIRELY new reading journey, making it nearly impossible to put down. The combination of exploring Caleb’s abilities in addition to just seeing our two main characters get through the ups and downs of high school life is genius, playing off of my love for both coming of age and that urban fantasy genre — without the fantasy element taking over the story. If you’re REALLY looking for that something NEW in the young adult realm, THIS should be your next read.

One of the best parts of The Infinite Noise are the characters, for they’re lovable and memorable! I couldn’t help but fall in love with Caleb and Adam. These two rounded and in-depth characters are so full of interesting traits and quirks, making them come to life off the pages. Watching them develop to the characters they end up being was such a delight. Shippen also doesn’t stay within the stereotypes too much, which was a relief. Though Caleb’s a jock, he’s a bit of a nerd and doesn’t necessarily enjoy parties. And although Adam’s quite the genius, he isn’t perfect and still has the courage to stand up for himself against bullies. Dr. Bright’s another favourite of mine, as she truly seems to care for the atypicals and has such an interesting vibe about her. The characters you’re meant to like … you LOVE!

Shippen addresses a number of sensitive topics, handling them in a delicate and appropriate manner. To be frank, a large number of novels still don’t properly address heavier topics well; they either have NO tact or just skim the topic as though it never happened. The Infinite Noise deviates from this, discussing a large number of “rather taboo” subjects in a respectful way. The premise of the story follows Caleb’s journey through his connection with Adam but also through therapy, something that isn’t typically seen in young adult novels (or novels in general). Through this, the novel explores Caleb learning to cope with his emotions and his anger issues. On the flip side, Adam’s an extremely intelligent young man who suffers from depression and social awkwardness. The novel doesn’t necessarily SOLVE all of these issues like magic, for that’s not really how mental health works. Rather, The Infinite Noise examines how to cope with these feelings through personal growth and seeking help from others, normalizing sensitive mental health topics just a tad bit more.

The romance is ON POINT — utterly captivating and breathtaking. Seeing the characters gradually realize their feelings for one another’s the BEST part of this novel. The love’s so tender and innocent, yet heart-grabbing and passionate. The LGBT+ representation’s done incredibly well. On one hand, we have a character fully aware of their sexual orientation. On the other hand, we have a character who slowly realizes their feelings and comes to terms with this discovery in a fairly healthy manner. It felt so DIFFERENT in comparison to other “coming out” stories. There wasn’t this TABOO feelings … their acknowledgement of realizing their attracted to the same sex just felt NORMAL … which is how it should be. Shippen … you made my day.

THE WOES

There’s a lot of unanswered questions regarding this fictional Earth, “atypicals” and these sinister organizations. It took about halfway through the book to realize that, unlike the X-Men or other Marvel comics, the majority of the population doesn’t appear to be aware of the existence of atypicals. Learning about this later in the novel made the first half somewhat confusing, since I was trying to decipher the severity of Caleb’s secret. In addition, the novel briefly discusses the dangers of these “top secret” organizations that perform tests and experiments on people like Caleb. But then Shippen just dismisses it without exploring this PRETTY important piece of information further. So here I am, left both confused and frustrated. HOPEFULLY, we will learn more in the next Bright Sessions novel.

The lack of action and attention to “atypicals” is FAIRLY disappointing. Though I’m VERY glad that the book focuses primarily on Caleb and Adam, there was something left missing once they reconciled certain ‘unknown questions’ (especially since this part takes place at about the 75% mark) . The random meetings with other atypicals, the panic yet disregard for these secret and dangerous organizations … you’d think there would be more action regarding these elements of the plot … but you’d be wrong. The lack of that “action/adventure” after these momentous discoveries made the rest of the story rather mundane and dull, as though there was no real point in bringing up the topic of these groups to begin with.

For those who dislike series that change the main characters, this MAY NOT be for you. I emphasize MAY NOT, for I’m not really certain myself. After reading more about this series on Goodreads, it looks as though book two and three will follow different characters under Dr. Bright’s care. I’m ALL for learning about new atypicals … but I’m PRETTY upset by this. The Infinite Noise doesn’t feel COMPLETE yet: Caleb and Adam’s story in general, Caleb’s continuous growth controlling his abilities, Adam’s mental health issues, the recent discoveries they’ve unveiled about these “secret” organizations and SO MUCH MORE. There’s also a number of other interesting characters in this book that I really want to learn more about. As of the moment, their appearances feel rather random and unnecessary to the plot growth. So if the next couple of books don’t explore all the items mentioned above more, I’ll actually feel like this book only deserves a 3 star rather than 4 star due to a lack of exploration and open ended events.

OVERALL

Shippen’s The Infinite Noise is a beautiful and breathtaking novel, touching upon both the exhilarating and difficult parts of being a teenager in high school … learning how one fits in such a large and expansive world. Though there’s a number of “fantasy” and “unearthly” elements to the story, Shippen really touches upon the many different aspects of learning to cope and understand human emotion. I can honestly say I have yet to read a book like this, making the reading experience even more grand.

I DO recommend this novel if you enjoy:

↠ An authentic and original story
↠ A focus on mental health, therapy and social anxiety
↠ Alternating POVs
↠ A focus on M/M romance
↠ Descriptive writing

I DO NOT recommend this novel if you dislike:

↠ A large number of unanswered questions
↠ An underdeveloped plot
↠ A lack of world building and exploration

If you like books about unlikely friendships which lead on to unlikely relationships then this book is for you. It is an interesting look at what happens when someone deeply feels the emotions of the people around him, he’s an empath, which in many ways makes him vulnerable to the ever changing moods of people he encounters. It also gives him a clear understanding of the struggles of those who have difficulty expressing their feelings. I like it when there is a character like Caleb who seems to be the popular guy, the football hero, the guy with all the friends and seeming to have it all together, who turns out to be deep in the depths of inner turmoil. I like the journey a character like this goes on. Yes, you can pick where Caleb and the lovely Adam are going to end up, but it is the way that they get there which is lovely. This is sensitively written, funny in parts and will make you have all of the feels, from outrage through to heart meltyness.

I have never listened to the Bright Sessions Podcast but this book is enough to send me on a mission to listen.

This is a must have for secondary school libraries, it doesn’t matter that the setting is the USA, this book is universal and will have lots of appeal, especially in a diverse collection. It doesn’t move fast, it is a slow thoughtful read but beautifully done.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to this great book.

An over-all good read! A sweet story that deals with the complexity of human emotions, especially those emotions at 17. The use of dual points of view proves an effective and compelling storytelling method. Although the audience doesn't recieve many answers to the multitude of questions about the world that Shippen creates, this feels natural, as the characters don't know much either. This definitely complicated the satisfaction I got from the piece, but in the end, it felt like the best choice to make. Many moments in this book provide hopeful sugary sweet moments that leave you enamored with the characters, although you may want to scream at some of their choices. Overall 9/10, an amazing effort that will be enjoyable for those who want a more complicated LGBTQ+ feel good, and enjoy the supernatural!

My husband pokes fun at me for being a stereotypical girl and liking books and movies about “feelings and relationships”. And we’ll he isn’t wrong, though I don’t think that’s ALL I like, like he seems to think. But in the case of The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shipen it’s totally true, quite literally.

Caleb Michaels used to be the straight arrow guy. He didn’t get into fights and his grades were good. His family life average. He was just-normal. But that changes when he punches a fellow student, a bully, in the face at school. His family puts him in therapy and that’s when his life changes.

Dr. Bright says he’s an Atypical. He’s an Empath. He FEELS what the people around him feel, literally. And he has to learn to control it so things like the incident at school doesn’t happen again. But he really doesn’t know how.

Adam Hayes is smart, valedictorian smart. The son of two brilliant neurologists who absolutely do not understand him. He’s good at science but loves literature. He loves music. He is also severely clinically depressed. The bullies don’t help with that.

Caleb feels Adams emotions differently than anyone else’s. When Adam is around, Caleb can only feel Adam and not the mass of student body around him. This brings the Adam into Caleb’s orbit which thrills Adam because he has had crush on Caleb for a long time. But then friendship seems to be more than that and Caleb seems to feel the same, or does he? His gift makes it hard to tell sometimes.

The Infinite Noise is a book based off of a series of podcasts called The Bright Sessions featuring a cast of patients of Dr. Bright. And now I HAVE to go listen to those because the book was amazing. And clearly this won’t be the last book because there are other characters to develop and have stories of those pen and Caleb and Adam’s story is clearly not quite finished either. I’ll be looking forward to more from Lauren Shippen.

Booklings, if you are looking for a good book full of feels and relationships (and is LGBTQ friendly btw) look no further. The Infinite Noise is perfect for you. I adored it!

I give The Infinite Noise a 5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read The Infinite Noise for a fair and honest review!

I knew I was in trouble with this book when I began highlighting all the passages with obvious typos or that didn’t make sense. I realise we’re reading an uncorrected proof but it’s very distracting. I will usually try to plough on through such a novel and read nevertheless, I was even contemplating listening to the podcast, but found the book to be very slow-moving and, dare I say, boring. Eventually I gave up half way through which is disappointing as I was very much looking forward to this one.

When I started reading The Infinite Noise I was excited because the synopsis sounded unique and I love a good YA LGBT Contemporary. 50% in I was highly invested and on board with the progress relationship wise between our main characters. 75% the book started to lose me a bit. I understand that it's a fantasy "xmen type" story but the first half of the book didn't feel very fantasy focused and then all of sudden the story was rapidly building up the angle. The end - there was so much potential for sh*t to get crazy but it never happened. In just a few chapters the excitement and intensity fizzled out and then 'whelp everything is okay for now let's agree to be different.'

Obviously from the above paragraph you can tell I'm not sold on the plot line but I did enjoy our main characters, Caleb and Adam. One struggling to cope with everyone else's feelings on top of his own and one is drowning in depression. When things were good they were great, and they gave me all the mushy young romance feels I wanted. Sadly most of the time between them was spent keeping feelings and secrets hidden and sort of walking on egg shells with each other. The book highlights a lot of intense subjectssuch as depression and suicide, alongside sexual orientation and high school bullying. I think I wasn't prepared for how heavy it was going to be.

I've noticed when I feel strongly about a book whether in a positive way or a negative way my reviews don't really have any structure. This might not be a new favorite for my shelf but either way I am glad I read it. I look forward to any book that brings out strong reactions when so many of the books I read lately seems to be the same.

I need to preface this review by stating that I was unaware that this was based off of a podcast (The Bright Sessions) before starting this book. I have not listened to any episodes and probably never will.

This book had me all up in my feels...which may have been the purpose since this story revolves around an Empath and lots and lots of emotions. Since I had no knowledge of this book being based off of a podcast, I enjoyed the relationship building of the story. I'm not saying that people who have listened to the podcast won't enjoy it but I was unaware of the supernatural elements of the story until much later into the story. This allowed me the opportunity to get to know and love the characters before diving into what I'm assuming the podcast is about (supernatural elements). *Correct me if I'm wrong*

*Possible spoilers below*

I have to give so much praise to Lauren Shippen for the way Adam and Caleb were portrayed. Often, it seems that women who write gay characters into their stories make them over-the-top or stereotypical. That was not the case here. Adam and Caleb were people. They were not defined by being gay and there was so much depth to them. These characters also didn't "come out." Adam's parents already knew and when Caleb realized he was interested in Adam as more than a friend it was just like, "Okay...I like him." There wasn't any dramatic dialogue about masculinity and blah blah blah...it was perfect!

There was one time near the beginning when Caleb is talking to his mom about not showering at school he mentions that guys think about "stuff" in the shower and didn't want to be around that. I thought to myself, "Wait...do guys think about that sort of....stuff in the shower??" Maybe....but why mention it?? Then I realized later on that, sure, not all guys think like that in the shower but if there are some, Caleb can feel those emotions and would definitely want to avoid any *ahem* issues.

*Definite Spoilers Below*

The only issue that I had (and I wouldn't even define it as an issue) was that it was glaringly obvious of the "twist" that was going to play out near the end. Adams parents were soo secretive about what they do for a living that when it was first mentioned that there are people looking for Atypicals, I knew it was going to be them. I wish it was written in a way that made it more surprising.

Overall, I enjoyed the connection between Adam and Caleb more than anything and definitely would read more about them. The supernatural elements were a nice added touch but I found myself more interested in the relationships than anything else.

The Infinite Noise follows the story of Caleb Michaels, who had a pretty normal life as a high school footballer, until one day he discovered himself to be an empath, an Atypical who can sense people’s feelings, and suddenly, life was not so normal anymore. Enter Adam Hayes, the bright yet quiet classmate of Caleb, who’s feeling was too big and deep, making Caleb overwhelmed as he found himself helplessly drowning in it. This is a story of self-discovery, a coming-of-age love journey, and maybe, one or two sessions of superhero-only therapy.

I discovered the glorious universe of The Bright Sessions last month, right after reading the synopsis of Shippen’s debut. Looking at all of the exciting commentaries about this upcoming release, which was coming from fans of the original podcasts of course, I started listening to the first episode right that second. I’m glad to tell you that surprisingly, although it was my very first storytelling podcast, I truly had a great time. My initial intention was to listen to the whole podcast before I jump into this book, but unfortunately, I couldn’t do it in time. So, I ended up in the middle of season three when I started reading this book and here how it goes…

Obviously, after listening to the podcast and memorizing the voice of the characters to heart now, reading them on paper was so much easier and exciting. The book was following the exact plotline of the podcast, but don’t let this intimidate you because you totally don’t have to listen to the podcast to enjoy this story! However, I’d say listening to the podcast will help you to dissolve quicker in these characters’ inner monologues and struggles.

Unfortunately, as much as I enjoyed the podcast, I couldn’t get the same feeling from this book. Don’t get me wrong, Caleb and Adam were my favorite characters in the podcast and it was exciting to be able to read more of their thoughts in this story, something that does not exist in the podcast.

During the first encounters of both of their point-of-views, it was thrilling. For Caleb, I enjoyed how he grows into his superpower. His narrative was fun to read, especially the way he used visualization to make more sense of how his power works. Meanwhile, for Adam, I’m grateful to see more of his personality through the reflection of his struggles and thoughts. But after the endless back and forth POV’s changes between these two, they started to sound almost similar and even the pace started to feel dragging, especially from the middle towards the end. It was understandable that since both of them are still teenagers and they were having difficulties to communicate with each other, they will need some time to figure things out. Yet, I personally found that it took too long for them to resolve their issues and the sole reason for their conflict was because Caleb keeps shutting his mouth in the middle of a sentence to keep his secret and Adam keep asking stubborn oblivious series of questions that stressing out Caleb.

And remember when I said that the pace started to drag? It was especially because from the beginning until around 80% of the story, it only focused on three main characters (aside from family members and other classmates), and suddenly, it delivers other ‘important’ characters out of nowhere, that also brings other crucial plots along with their appearance. Which of course, will not be a big problem if you’re listening to the podcast already, but even as the podcast listener, I found this addition as too rushed and sudden. It was as if Shippen didn’t consider that there are readers who’re not aware of the podcast and just delivered chunk on important information without a proper warm-up.

Although it was an enjoyable ride, The Infinite Noise was a high-anticipated debut that doesn’t really meet its expectations. Aside from its extraordinary superhero concept and detailed worldbuilding, the character development and their genuine relationship captivated me to keep reading this story until the very last page.