It’s hard for me to describe this book. Some of the POV’s used crude language, which I do not like, but I was interested enough in the story to keep reading. Judging by the cover, I mistakenly thought this would be a fun, light, and humorous read. I couldn’t have been more wrong. What this book is is a sad, depressing, and realistic look at the hard times the citizens of this small town were individually facing imbued with an ending sense of hope. The story is unique and interesting and focuses on character and relationship development. I actually started out really disliking this novel but it slowly wore on me and I ended up actually enjoying it.

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

All in all I think this was a well written book. It gave off small town Schitt’s Creek vibes but with a whole bunch of drama and complex characters. The characters are dynamic and showed many layers which was nice. I think this book showcased the feelings that all humans exemplify from time to time. Love, joy, loss, hurt, dreams, fears… The book is whacky but it kept things interesting. Well done, Ali Bryan.

Confusing at first but found that I truly could not put it down. The character development woven through the course of the story really brings to life every day struggle and how one event, can truly change the course of a person's journey. Very well done and exceptional story telling!

Complex and dynamic are two words to describe this book for sure. Between the contest, the prison escape, a bear and so many quirky folks to fall in love with, this book will keep you wanting more and more. There were some plot points that could have dove deeper and provided more insight, but the air of mystery was left behind. The chapters alternated points of view which is one of my favorite writing styles, and really gave the reader a chance to get to know each character and how they’re related to everyone else.

Thank you for the advanced copy!

Incredibly fun read! I would love to spend a day at the Crow Valley Karaoke Championships.

The characters are wacky (not just the ones we get a POV of) and the story seemed very realistic discussing people in a small town who have known each other all their lives. The writing style is very fun, with multiple unreliable narrators who all feel very strongly about the karaoke contest (well, with one notable exception). Would've liked a bit more worldbuilding instead of being thrown into the middle of things but that might be a personal preference.

Overall - very much enjoyed this story & very excited to read more from this author!

This was such a good book! I had a feeling I was going to love it from the title, but I was not prepared to love it as much as I did! We have a small Canadian town, a Karaoke Championship that is of the utmost importance, a dead husband and the wife he left behind, a man who cheated and his recovering alcoholic wife, a police officer and his wife who is resentful of her life as a wife and mother, and an escaped prisoner. It sounds crazy and a little like it would be sad, but it works. The characters are complex and dynamic, the plot moves at a great speed, the humor was smart and laugh out loud at times, and the writing was truly enjoyable. I kept thinking about Fredrik Backman's Anxious People when I was reading this one. Maybe because the book alternated between the different characters narrating their own chapters (I just love that) and the way the characters kept showing their different layers. We all have dreams, fears, hopes, devastation, times of grief, times of happiness, times of thankfulness, and we go through all of these feelings with our characters from Crow Valley. Truly maybe my favorite "surprise delight" of my 2022 books.

I enjoyed reading this interestingly formatted novel, that I believe is called head=hopping. Each chapter switches from the perspective of one of the five main characters. They are multi layered, funny and sad, emotionally messed up, and deeply passionate people. I laughed out loud and also felt deeply bereft. Crow Valley is a town I cannot relate to on any level, yet the story kept me engaged. I will be recommending this well written book upon its publication. Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for sending this book for every consideration. All opinions are my own. #NerGalley, #HenryHolt&Company,#AliBryan.

Everyone in this town had some major drama--grief, infidelity, addiction, karaoke, depression, incarceration. It was a lot. I really wondered why anyone would live here if they had any chance not to. I thought it was interesting and the escaped convict was a novel way to thread all these storylines together. I think it would have worked better as a short story collection though.

Don't let the fun title fool you. This novel is powerful. It takes place over the course of one day when the town's karaoke championship is taking place. Wildfires have ravaged the community and caused the death of Dale, a seemingly idealized man who touched the lives of people throughout the town - in positive and negative ways. The story is told through the shifting points of view of those who knew dale - his wife, his coworker, his best friend, a prisoner at the prison where he worked. Though it has so many hilarious moments, quirky characters, and great song lyrics, the story is so much more. The hardships of parenting, marriage, adultery, alcoholism, grief, child and spousal abuse, and more come up as these very real characters navigate the day. A rare book that makes you both laugh and cry.

A quirky and oddly funny and enjoyable novel. The characters are full of life and each has a story to tell. They each share a connection to a deceased character, Dale. Many things fall into place during the Crow Valley Karaoke competition when an inmate escapes from the local prison and affects them in connected but not really connected ways. It is a completely engaging novel.
I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fun book with lots of happenings. You start with a karaoke contest and add a queer judge, a sad widow who is grieving over her husband, an alcoholic, an adulterer and some bratty kids. The town houses a prison where many of the characters work. Unfortunately, there is a prison break in the middle of the karaoke contest. This was a humorous read. I rated it 4/5 stars because I really had to concentrate in the beginning to keep everyone straight. They all soon took on personalities and I felt that I knew everyone. I was privileged to read an ARC of this book provided by NetGalley and Harry Holt & Co. The review is my own.

thank you thank you thank you to @netgalley & @henryholtbooks for sending me my first arc. 💗 this is such a cute “small town” & “everyone knows everyone and will look out for each other” kinda feel. it all takes place over 24 hours & includes many different examples of how trauma and grief can manifest in many different ways for many different people. be sure to get your hands on it when it comes out July 25,2023!!
the crow valley karaoke championships by: Ali Bryan

Oh my goodness, this was brilliant! Ali Bryan packed so much into this book, every emotion and action was well executed.

I love how the story was created around such a simple thing as a karaoke contest. A must read.

An engaging and surprisingly dark read about a handful of people each dealing with their own problems - grief, infidelity, addiction, depression, incarceration. Set over the course of one eventful day, the citizens of Crow Valley are eager to compete in their local karaoke championship for a chance at qualifying for the nationals. As the contestants belt out their tunes, a convicted arsonist escapes from prison and soon the entire town is on alert. Storylines converge as we figure out how each character is connected to one another.

There are elements of suspense and mystery throughout the plot and it zig zagged from being humorous to devastating. At times, there were some tantalizing details shared about a character that were not fully explored. Most interesting to me was how each of the five main characters had different relationships with and impressions of "local hero" Dale, who tragically passed away in a fire. I wished that aspect was drawn out a bit more. Recommended for fans of stories set in small towns with quirky characters.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

This was a fun, cute story to follow along with. I enjoyed the characters and the plot as well. The story moved at a good pace and was easy to follow along with as well.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book takes place during a karaoke contest, but focuses on the personal growth for several very unique characters. The story felt very new and personal, with characters that you can't help but both hate and root for. Ali Bryan did an excellent job of balancing humor and harsh reality.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Really probably 3.5 stars for me but I'm rounding up for skillful writing, even though this book wasn't quite my style.
The author did an impressive job of creating the five different storylines for this multiple POV story and making it clear how the characters' lives intertwined. I was left wanting a little more action out of the major plot points, and I had to really pay attention to get all the characters straight at first.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Henry Holt & Company and #NetGalley. Thank you to the publishers, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Heartwarming, quaint and entertaining.

3.75 stars
Such a fun refreshing novel. It’s funny, warm, genuine. The characters all had very good and different personalities. Not quite Schitts Creek, but that’s good because that’s been done. I loved it.

A delightful read! It’s been compared aptly to Schitt’s Creek (though I see it more as the animated film Sing) and has the charm and entertainment of both. The story follows five protagonists - who are all connected to a recently deceased town hero - as they attend a karaoke competition in his honor. This gathering quickly spirals out of control in ways both superficially silly and viscerally deep.

At first glance there seems to be a few too many characters, but over time they impressively all feel like distinct people grappling with their own demons. What makes it better is how their interconnected stories become increasingly absurd and convoluted, in all the best ways. Plus, it’s clear that Bryan uses each character to represent various relatable issues, and she does so in such clever ways. The writing style/format is great, too, for it effectively balances the quick-paced tension and banter with some tender, meaningful moments.

Filled with charm and wit, this novel will surely leave some impact on you. I recommend this book to those who like humorous ensembles, witty and almost absurd storytelling, and stories about small town, every day life.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.