Another strong, emotional, significant novel from Robin Talley. She excels at the LGBTQIA YA historical genre, I think this is probably my favorite of her since Lies We Tell Ourselves.

I will never stop loving and crying over Robin Talley’s books. Music From Another World is another edition to her works of queer historical fiction. Here’s why I loved it so much: Two girls from two separate parts of California, both from religious families, both going to a catholic school, both have secrets. Sharon’s brother is gay, and Tammy is a lesbian. Both of these secrets could put an end to their lives. The story is told through letters and journal entries. Tammy and Sharon are put together through a school summer pen pal project and become best friends, confiding in each other, feeling at home with each other, bonding over punk music and Patti Smith. Meanwhile, Tammy is also writing letters to Harvey Milk, she never sends them, but they are so necessary for her because he is an openly gay man fighting for gay rights in her state. Sharon uses her diary, a way to chronicle her life without fear of someone else having to know exactly what is going on in her head. This story is at once heartbreaking and uplifting and I believe that’s what Talley tries to do in all of her books. She’s acknowledging the realities of being in the time, bringing those fears and issues to the forefront so the reader can understand just how daring and brave these characters are, and then she allows us what most real life stories at that time don’t, a happy ending. I loved this book, and I will keep reading Robin Talley because she keeps the history of queer people and their hope alive.

I enjoyed this book. It was the perfect blend of historical fiction and contemporary LGBTQIA romance. It was easy to read the way it was written between pen pals, and all of the historical and musical references were great. I would definitely read another book by this author, and I would recommend this to anyone that likes diverse reads or historical fiction. Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read it early.

Robyn Talley's writing first sucked me in with <i>Pulp</i>, so I jumped at the chance to read <i>Music From Another Room</i>. The interplay between Tammy and Sharon as pen pals will spark nostalgia in anyone old enough to have had a mandatory pen pal, and will immerse younger readers in a time where your friends weren't right at your fingertips. While I did not love all of the plot developments in this relationship, I understand why, for the purposes of the novel, why Talley handled them the way she did.

As in <i>Pulp</i>, Talley again enlightens readers about LGBTQ history, and does so in a way that parallels some of the same struggles for equality the community still faces today. Seeing Harvey Milk as almost a rock star - in a book full of actual rock stars - will prompt readers to learn more about Prop 6, and to hopefully understand that, much as the world did not end when gay teachers remained in the classroom, it will not end when other marginalized groups get basic civil rights, either.

I know there are students in my room who need a Tammy, a Sharon, or a Peter that they can see themselves in. I know, too, that there are many more who need to see positive representation of gay, lesbian, and, bisexual characters in books to combat negative messages they might be receiving elsewhere.

4 stars

I really enjoyed the framing and the execution of this novel.

The novel centers on two characters, both high school girls on different ends of California. These girls - Sharon and Tammy - become pen pals, and over the course of their writing, they develop a trusting relationship through which they are able to discover truths about their worlds and themselves (and Patti Smith). The whole thing is set in the late '70s, and it is a blast to read about their relationships to music, especially, while it is simultaneously horrifying to read about the social and political states of affairs for LGBTQ+ people.

I love that there is lesbian representation, gay representation, and especially bi representation (so rare!) happening here, and I really like the ways in which the hypocrisy of some of the "moral" characters is portrayed. It's also somewhat easy to get lost in how far society has come in the face of some extremely gross political and social issues of modern times, and I appreciated those reminders here. As a side note, in addition to the pen pal letters (and other letters that show up later), there are also Tammy's diary entries, which are addressed to Harvey (Milk). It's awesome to think about the less obvious ways in which his very existence served as a beacon of hope and representation to folks in all areas, of all ages, of various gender identities, etc. Thinking about this, on the downside, also leads one to consider the impact of his assassination on folks like Tammy and other characters in this work.

The characters, by nature of their identities and beliefs, struggle throughout this work, and the reader can't help but struggle with them, but their resilience and commitment to being true to themselves is inspiring: a strong read overall.

Honestly, this book was fascinating. If you don't really know about what happened in Florida or San Francisco in the late 70s, and you're interested in LGBT history, you definitely should read this book. But it's more than that. Music From Another World brings it to life for those of us who weren't around at the time, and expresses the feelings of those who were. I honestly found that more interesting than the love story itself, but it all does tie together in the end. I definitely recommend this!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Summer 1977, and Tammy and Sharon have been paired up together for a pen pal project for their high schools. The purpose of the pen pal project is to strengthen students’ faith over the summer and into the first term of their junior year of high school.

Both are reluctant about this project, and both keep a journal outside of the letter writing project. Tammy writes to Harvey Milk, an elected supervisor for San Francisco Board of Supervisors (the first openly gay man to be elected in California). Tammy is a lesbian, but her family is very much anti-gay and is working with Anita Bryant’s campaign (another historical figure and real historical campaign) to repeal any gay rights laws as well as prevent any more from passing.

Sharon writes to her journal, keeping her brother’s secret: her brother is gay, but her mom doesn’t know this. Both are fearful for what could happen if their mom finds out.

As they begin to write to each other, an unlikely friendship blossoms between the two of them. As Sharon discovers Castro Street and punk music and Tammy tries to find ways to fight back against her aunt without outing herself, the two quickly find that it takes great bravery to be yourself when people are actively working against your very existence.

Running from 1977 to 1978, Talley’s Music From Another World is an atmospheric book, steeped in rich historical world building, putting these characters right there in real life events. Most of those who read this won’t know the history, but hopefully, this book will encourage them (like it did for me) to find out more.

I love when Robin Talley writes historical queer YA. It's Talley at her best, and it's always such a joy to dive in with these characters and their history. This one is right up there with the rest.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Music from Another World in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

I devoured this book. This is my first Robin Talley book and I am hooked. I want to soak up everything she's ever written after reading this gem. While the book is set in 1970's California, there is such vivid detail in her writing that I felt like I was there. This book kept me up way past my bedtime (which is hard to do with two young kids at home -- sleep is very valuable these days!).

The characters in the book felt supremely real to me. I want to exist in their world. I can just picture Sharon and Tammy in present day as strong feminists still living in San Francisco, organizing political rallies, and going to punk rock concerts.

This book reflects on the sad history of our country as it concerns LGBTQIA+ folks. In reality, this wasn't even that long ago and we still have a long way to go but this books gives you hope despite everything else.

I would recommend this book to anyone.

I was given this ARC via Net Galley and publisher for an honest review. Many Thanks!
So the very first book I read by Robin Talley was Lies We Tell Ourselves and was blown away. When I saw this book I knew I had to get my hands on it and was not disappointed.
This story is set in 1977 and involves Tammy Larson and Sharon Hawkins both who live in California. Tammy Larson is from Orange County, a very conservative city and is secretly gay. She comes from a Uber conservative family that not only runs the church but the Christian school she goes to.
Sharon lives in San Francisco. She also comes from a conservative Catholic family where her mom teaches but has a gay brother who she loves and makes her rethink everything she’s ever known.
Sharon and Tammy meet as Pen Pals via their schools as a project and it changes their lives.
This comes about in the Harvey Milk era when he becomes a prominent figure in San Francisco and other areas trying to vote in Proposition 6.
The only problem I had is to understand when each MC was talking to one another or in their diary. Once you get use to how it’s presented you will love it.
4.5 stars

3 1/2 stars. Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've been a follower of Robin Talley's work for a few years now, and can honestly say that this is one of her better books—which are often hit or miss with me. In a lot of ways, it reads like a spiritual successor to her 2018 book <i>Pulp</i>, which explored queer history through the medium of 1950s lesbian pulp novels. <i>Music from Another World</i> dives back into queer history by exploring the gay rights movement of the late 1970s through the frame of friendship struck up between two pen pals: Tammy, a lesbian teen from an ultraconservative, religious family, and Sharon, a good Catholic girl from San Francisco who is struggling to come to terms with her brother's revelation that he's gay. Talley's initiative to bring LGBT history to young queer readers of today is one of the things I liked most about <i>Pulp</i>, and liked even better about <i>Music from Another World</i>: the high-stakes political environment and the atmosphere of protest were exciting, and incredibly relevant to today, as well.

The friendship between the two main characters really worked for me and felt like it unfolded authentically. Tammy and Sharon are paired up at random by their respective schools to complete a summer pen pal project. Both have reason to feel like outsiders in their school and home life, and find that an impartial friend, whom they've never met in person and who know nothing about their lives, to be a kind of safe space. Eventually, this alliance leads to trust, and eventually deep friendship. To say anything more would be to spoil several great plot twists, but suffice to say: the progression of these two girls from lost, friendless individuals to each other's best friends is the heart of this novel and, in my opinion, executed flawlessly.

The historical aspects of the novel were mostly well done and interesting. There were times when I felt that they could have been a little more complete (or at least mentioned in the afterward, which, hey, they might be once the novel's gone to print!). Harvey Milk is significant in the novel, appearing several times in person (and serving as a proxy for Tammy, who feels she has no one to talk to who understands her, and addresses her diary entries to Harvey), but there are several references to Dan White without any explanation of his significance beyond his political role. Granted, the novel ends before Harvey Milk's assassination, but from the tone the novel took whenever mentioning Dan White, I felt the reader was supposed to know who he was. (I only did because I read Cleve Jones's book <i>When We Rise</i> last year—LGBT history was definitely not part of my high school curriculum.)

I also tend to find Talley's storytelling to be juvenile and overly simplistic at times. This isn't necessarily a condemnation; Talley's heroines are young teenagers, and therefore I'm not the target audience for her work. I do, however, take issue with the cartoonishly evil way Tammy's evangelical Christian family are painted. Again, as a Christian, this is possibly a matter of personal preference, but it does feel somewhat shortsighted to portray one side as altogether evil (for reasons extending beyond not being supportive of gay liberation). Certainly, people like Tammy's Aunt Mandy exist, and Anita Bryant, who is mentioned several times in the text, is a historical figure. But it rubbed me the wrong way that Aunt Mandy was a Bible-bashing sociopath with no true moral compass and multiple sins to her name.

Overall, though, I really liked the book, and even learned a thing or two about what it was like to grow up LGBT in the turbulent end of the 1970s. I really hope Talley continues to write LGBT history—this is clearly the place where she shines.

I don't typically read YA books, but this one seemed interesting to me because it was historical fiction/romance. I went into this one with high hopes and Talley did not disappoint. I admit it started a little rocky because I needed to get use to the format. Both MC's mainly write in their diary. Sharon writes in the Dear Diary format and Tammy writes into her diary to Harvey Milk. Once they start writing to one another the Dear Tammy/Sharon comes into play. By the time I got 1/4 way into it, I actually really started to enjoy Talley's writing style.

So this book will hit home for alot of lgbt people growing up in the 70's/80's. It really does show the state of the country when it came to acceptance for gay folks. Things have improved but some of this hatred can still be seen throughout the world even today. Anyway, I really enjoyed this one!
4.25 Stars

I think this book suffered a little bit from the format for me. It was told through a combination of letters and diary entries, and because of that it was limited in what the reader is shown/told. While I liked the format in the beginning when the two main characters are pen pals writing back and forth to each other, at the point in the story when they meet in person and their stories continue together in the same space, it felt more awkward but the author was committed to the format at that point. It also felt a little bit "message-y". Like the message was more important than the characters, so the plot felt a little forced in order to support the message. I don't know if this comes from the format because despite the diary entries, I felt a little removed from the characters because everything was being told to the reader after the fact in a letter or a diary entry.

Overall I liked it, but I wish I had felt more connected to the characters. For the right reader though, this book probably works just fine.

This was, somehow, my first time reading a Robin Talley book but I immediately want to run out and buy all her other books!

I had a bit of a rant recently with my gay male best friend about what a moment gay male books and love stories are having in the book world. And how much I so needed, wanted more lesbian ones. So needless to say, I was so happy to find Music from Another World on Net Galley and so jazzed when my request was approved. And while I’m already a bit off topic, since this book is historical fiction and there’s a beautiful little note from the author at the end, I just have to add a little of my own history as it pertains to how this book made me feel and all it meant to me.

Growing up, I came out as a lesbian at 10 years old, in a time, while not so long ago, that just didn’t happen and I was met even more with incredulousness than hate from the adults in my life. How could I know so young? I’m so glad so much has changed in the world and continues to change, hopefully only for the better. In middle school, I had an incredible knack for finding the LGBT books I now realize we were so incredibly lucky to have in the vast library of our fine and performing arts school. This was a time when YA sections hardly existed in most libraries and I can only assume, the books I did find were some of the only ones like them at the time. My classmates, some of them queer or questioning themselves, could not even believe me when I’d show them these books. I cannot ever put into words what a lifeline they were. And that being in our school library, we all had access to them even if we didn’t feel safe taking them home.

I tell this story because LGBT YA, especially lesbian YA, has an immensely special place in my heart as you can imagine. These books are literal lifesavers to queer teens. And while YA has grown so much and gotten so diverse... this book, ahhh, it feels so much like the Nancy Garden and ME Kerr books I was finding and reading in the late 90s and early 00s. Talley mentions in her afterwards being a teen of the 90s, so I can only assume she was as influenced by those authors as I have been and I can’t think of a bigger compliment. This book not only took me back in time to it’s late 70s setting, but to all the angst and pain and joy of my own queer teen years.

Music from Another World is told in alternating journal entries and pen pal letters between Sharon, a Catholic teen in San Francisco who has a gay brother, and Tammy, a teen in conservative Orange County whose aunt is married to a Baptist preacher and hanging on the coattails of Anita Bryant’s anti-gay campaigning. Tammy has known she was a lesbian for a long time but has to stuff it down while stuffing envelopes for her aunt and uncle’s anti-gay campaign work. She’s never met another gay person and addresses her journal to Harvey Milk, the newly elected San Francisco city supervisor, and the first gay person Tammy has ever seen that is proud of who he is. Sharon, meanwhile, is the only person who knows her brother Peter’s secret and at the opening of the book, ends up joining him on Castro street for a protest against Anita Bryant and a law that had struck down an anti-discrimination clause in Miami. Sharon, who has never really felt like she fit in anywhere, is exhilarated by the Castro street vibe. Both Sharon and Tammy both end up discovering and bonding over punk music, especially Patti Smith. And through their letters to one another, the two find solace and understanding and eventually open up more and more.

One of my favorite things about this book is how politically active Sharon and her brother Peter are and later Tammy too, campaigning for Harvey Milk and against a California proposition that would ban gay teachers. In her afterward, Talley notes that the current political climate was part of what inspired her to write this book and I really hope it helps inspire teens to get involved. I was 14 when my state ended up passing the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and I remember feeling so helpless. Reading a book like this one, learning more about queer history and the amazing advocates and leaders who had come before, would’ve been amazing and I can only hope given the current state of things, teens feel empowered reading this. Frankly, even as an adult, I sure did.

I think this story was so excellently told that I don’t want to give even a hint of spoilers but I adored Sharon and Tammy and Peter. I loved the queer community they found in San Francisco and how beautifully embraced they were by slightly older members of the community. I loved the punk music and could relate to how much music helped me survive my own teen years (for me it was the Lilith Fair women singer-songwriters and later some of the very same punk music the girls were discovering). Robin Talley writes teens who are just that- real teenagers with all their worries, angst, hope, joys, discovering the world around them and themselves. As much as the YA genre has grown, I think it’s still a bit too rare to read teens who come across their own age and if the nostalgia I felt from this book is any any indication, teen characters who behave as teens still have a broad appeal. But truly, I think books like this belong first and foremost to queer teens who need them most and I so want to put a copy of this book into the hands of every young queer woman out there!

I adored this book so, so much! I can’t wait for it’s release in March and will be talking it up a lot. Highly recommended, to everyone, but especially to queer women and teens. And a huge thank you not only to Net Galley and the publisher, but to Robin Talley herself, for taking me on this incredible ride and writing a book that speaks so truly to queer history and experience in so many ways.



“It’ll be alright.” Evelyn said, her voice resolute. “We’ve lost every fight so far, but we’ll win the war. That’s why Harvey’s doing these debates—to change as many hearts and minds as we can. Every time we go out into the community, we’re showing the public that gay people are no different from them.”

What a privilege it was to step into this story and see these two girls come into their own and become confident in their identities. This is my favorite of Talley's so far, and I can't wait for its release so I can recommend it!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review*

Sharon and Tammy, high school pen pals, are struggling to discover themselves in the hopeful and volatile world of the late 1970’s gay rights movement in this epistolary novel. Tammy has to hide her identity from her church-founding, Anita-Bryant-worshipping family in Orange County; and Sharon regularly sneaks out with her gay brother, Peter, for activist causes and punk rock shows. The girls find in each other the kind of friendship that will transform their lives.

This is such a cute and inspiring story, historical and relevant, but I would definitely give it a content warning for queers who have lived in very religious, anti-gay homes. Even though my upbringing was comparatively tame (an unspoken, but taught, “that doesn’t happen in our family”), my blood still boiled when I read about Aunt Mandy, and I had to step away from the book when I got too upset. Tammy’s relatives are so manipulative, unforgiving, and cruel, it’s tantamount to child abuse. Which happens, and is important to address, but I think Tammy should be in therapy where she can learn that she’s the victim of their sadism, and none of it was her fault, and God actually doesn’t think she’s gross or should go to hell, etc. I think it would be helpful for the book to include resources for teens who have been abused like Tammy was.

This leads to something I really loved about the book: the importance of found family. This story demonstrates that queer found family is necessary for literal survival (if Tammy didn’t have Sharon to turn to, statistically she would probably have taken her own life), exploring identity, growing, and thriving. To find people and places where we can feel safe and seen is vital, and is something that we have to fight for, apparently, all the time.

Tammy, Sharon, and Peter fight for acceptance on individual levels, with Sharon and Peter sneaking to the Castro and volunteering, and Tammy attempting to distance herself from her family. But freedom and acceptance as individuals is also dependent on freedom and acceptance at local, state, and federal levels, and their personal crusades naturally lead into political activism, knocking on doors, marching, demonstrating, and voting. In showing how absolutely imperative it was to get involved in these politics of the 70’s, Tally makes a clear case for getting involved in the politics of today. We’ve got to research, talk, organize, march, demonstrate, and vote, because nobody else is going to fight for us, and even though these events seem so long ago, gay rights are still a recent thing and our hold on them is so tenuous, it’s going to take all of us to keep them.

This is a great book for teens to learn about Harvey Milk, the “gay panic” of the 70s, and the importance of taking an active role in fighting for your rights. It’s also just a great book, period.

Rating: four stars.

An enjoyable read, felt authentic to the time it’s set in, a great inclusion of history and nice pacing!

So this is based back in the 70s during the Prop 6 debate. It's done in a diary and penpal letter format and it works well in this case. You get a good feel of what's going on from both MC point of view and still get a few 'where did that come from' bits. A few happy tears and a few sad tears and a way better book then I was expecting. Pick it up when it comes out. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc. 4.5 stars