once again I realise that I don't really read the premise of books, which is kind of bad since I don't like middle grades and this is one.
Still it was an enjoyable, fast paced read and would recommend to people who like reading middle grade fantasies, especially if you are interested in music

It was a pleasant surprise for me. I picked it up solely because of the beautiful cover, with zero expectations, but ended up devouring it in nearly one sitting! It’s a lyrical, enchanting middle-grade fantasy that reads like a song. What sets it apart is that it’s told in first-person, which feels unusual for a novel with such poetic writing. While the voice of the 12-year-old protagonist doesn't always come through as strongly as I expected, the choice of perspective becomes essential due to a key plot twist.

The real star of the book is Bakewell’s stunning prose—it's absolutely gorgeous and gives the story a dreamlike quality. Though the plot starts off slow, with the main characters, Elissa and Lucio, meandering through the early chapters, the story finds its stride in the second half when they encounter the King of Basso. I would have loved to see the stakes raised earlier, but once the momentum picks up, the payoff is worth it.

If you're looking for a beautifully written, unique middle-grade fantasy, *We Are The Song* is a charming, poetic read that’s well worth sticking with.

#WeAretheSong #NetGalley.

I struggled with this one. The writing is very beautiful, and I admire the author for tackling complex themes around religion, art and freedom, but the pacing, character development and plot just didn't come together for me.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! Unfortunately, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

"We Are the Song" by Catherine Bakewell is a poignant and uplifting novel that beautifully captures the transformative power of music, friendship, and self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of a small coastal town in Ireland, the story follows protagonist Maeve as she navigates the complexities of family dynamics, grief, and her own journey of finding her voice.

Bakewell's writing is lyrical and evocative, transporting readers to the windswept cliffs and charming streets of Ireland. Through Maeve's passion for music and her involvement in a local choir, the author explores themes of community, resilience, and the healing power of artistic expression.

At its heart, "We Are the Song" is a story about the connections that bind us together and the importance of embracing our true selves. As Maeve and her fellow choir members come together to prepare for a prestigious competition, they learn valuable lessons about acceptance, forgiveness, and the strength that comes from facing life's challenges head-on. With its heartfelt storytelling and relatable characters, "We Are the Song" is a moving and uplifting read that will resonate with readers long after the final page.

Shelley Parker-Chan announced her tour today https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu4LVKTLumL/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I enjoyed this one! The pacing was a bit off, but I liked the magic system. It did read like a debut, but that only makes me more intruiged to see what the author will do in the future.

What an ethereal fantasy book! I wish it could be more popular! The protagonist is magnifique and the characters are driving this story to a beautiful end.

I think this was a case where I saw the cover of this book and made up a completely different book that it was about and then was disappointed when they book I read wasn't the book I made up in my head?

I loved this magical, musical fantasy idea in premise. I really liked this cover that looked like it could be an upper-middle grade fantasy for 8th and 9th graders. But I think it was just more of a run of the mill middle grade fantasy than i wanted it to be. I thought the characterization was nice, and readers who like music and fantasy might like this but I wasn't blown away.

A very sweet fantasy story for younger readers! I don't know if I would necessarily recommend this to an older audience, but it's definitely appropriate for readers of roughly the same age as our 12-year-old protagonist. I enjoyed the way the other handled exploring deeper issues, Elissa's reconciliation of her faith and the knowledge of her goddess, and how she had to learn what responsibilities might come with the power she holds. Delightful!

this book is as beautiful as the cover! i loved this story so much, it was truly magical and the characters meant so much to me <3

Such a beautiful cover. Normally when there’s an interesting concept to a book, I will finish it within a couple of days. The book has been categorised as middle grade and I’m unsure whether that should be the case due to some of the content. Unfortunately this was a really average read for me. I found that I had to put the book down multiple times before I actually pushed through

This one was such an interesting read for me. The story and the concept is new and fresh. I love it. A strong protagonist , music theme and a brave story. All the best ingredients for an awesome read.
I loved it and would recommend.
PS: Can we appreciate how beating the cover looks 🥰

We are the Song is a very beautiful novel! I love how the main character frowns into a strong woman. She ends up believing in herself! This story itself is very engaging with a shocking twist of betrayal at the end! This novel is prefect for middle grade readers! I recommend this for fans of The Girl who Drank the Moon and Fairest!

Wonderful middle grade fantasy with unique setting. It has a lovely cover and intriguing plot.
I really liked the world building. The characters could be more developed, but it was still a great, creative read.
Thank you for the arc

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

I enjoyed every minute of this! A quick read, and in some ways a little simple but delightful to read overall.

The stunning cover is what drew me to this book originally and it did not disappoint. I was entertained from the first page. I loved the writing and the main character Elissa. It's very unique for a middle grade novel, but very enjoyable. It's the kind of book you read in one sitting and find yourself gravitating back to it a year later to reread it because you miss the story and the characters.

I tried. But then I DNF'd this book about 25% in because I just could not get myself interested enough to read it. The ARC was approved months ago but its been sitting on my Kindle app like that since and I finally decided to remove it from my current reads.

We Are The Song made me realize middle grade books are just not for me, I much prefer YA or even adult books over it. The concept that the author tries to convey is intriguing but it's also excruciatingly slow paced and nothing happens. They travel, they sing, they praise the Goddess. I am sure the story evolves further as you read but the writing just was not for me.

2.5 stars
A beautiful cover and a fascinating idea of how a Goddess uses chosen singers to help the people of her world. The only problem was the story was slow, long and predictable. Our main character was also pressured, used, misled and made to doubt herself by her closest friend, and I hated him the whole book; I knew he would mess things up for her.