Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book will make you feel all the feelings!! Emmett and Quito have a complicated relationship. As teenagers they're best friends, in College Quito hopes for more but Emmett doesn't give any sign as to what he feels, and now as adults they are brought back together by Quito's dad, who hopes they can mend their relationship and find what they truly mean to each other.

Highly recommend!

A sweet love story with an adorkable protagonist, a love interest that’s a social chameleon with a big heart under his hot bro exterior, and a great supporting cast of characters! This fun second chance romance alternates between the past and the present, so you really get to see the characters fall in love (and make a lot of mistakes along the way). There’s almost a coming of age quality in the way Quito finds his voice over the course of the novel.

This book was...spectacular. It was incredibly sad, and a couple of big content note elements kind of came a little out of nowhere, but it was also incredibly joyful and sweet. There were a couple of things that had me on edge for a second or two, ready to be like "are you going to forgive that? I wouldn't forgive that" but then I got over it.

Okay, so the story: Quito is happy in New York, with his piano bar job and his boyfriend and his BFF. But when his father calls him asking him to invite his old friend, blockbuster movie star Emmett Aoki, to perform at his retirement concert, a lot of emotions are dregged up. Memories from high school; regret, fear, shame. But when he actually finds a way to meet Emmett again, the other emotions come to the forefront, and maybe something that couldn't happen before can happen again.

This book is CHOCK FULL of music, which I absolutely adored. And I don't just mean *discussion* of music, though that is pretty prominent as well. No, this book HAS MUSIC. There is singing, there is piano playing, there is composition. I'm so glad I decided to listen to the audiobook, because I got to hear "A Part I Play" (admittedly, the first time, it was in 2x speed because I didn't expect it to start). So if you're a fast listener, keep an ear out for the songs, because you're gonna want to slow it down for them.

Also: the narrator is absolutely fantastic. Great at true voice acting, shifting to different accents and voice types seamlessly. I look forward to hearing more of his work.

Content notes are at the beginning of the book, but the biggies are medical emergency of side character; past and present death of a family member; hospital visit; homophobia and anti-LGBTQ+ language; dubious consent

If you can read it, though: do it. And if you are an audiobook person, don't even touch a text book. Just get the audio as soon as you can.

"All the Right Notes" by Dominic Lim is a captivating and heartfelt contemporary romance novel that strikes all the right chords. From the moment I met protagonist Rachel Tan, a talented musician with dreams of success, I was immediately drawn into her world. Lim's writing is lyrical and evocative, capturing the beauty and passion of music with precision and depth. As Rachel navigates the highs and lows of pursuing her musical aspirations while balancing her personal life, I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. The chemistry between Rachel and the charming, enigmatic musician, Adam Lee, is electric, and their relationship is both tender and intense. Lim expertly weaves together themes of love, ambition, and self-discovery, creating a story that is as moving as it is inspiring. "All the Right Notes" is a captivating read that will resonate with anyone who has ever dared to chase their dreams. Whether you're a fan of romance novels or simply looking for a compelling story about following your passion, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression. Lim's storytelling is as enchanting as a melody, and I can't wait to see what he writes next.

Absolutely loved this debut by Dominic Lim!

Then & now timelines
LGTBQ+ rep
NYC/SF
music & theater
celebrity romance

Lower stakes M/M romance!

Quito lives in NYC, plays piano at a bar & occasionally fills in on Broadway shows. His BF, Mark, sets him up to compose songs for a new show (his dream!) but gets caught cheating with the producer of the show.

Ujima is Quito's roommate and they add quite a bit of character and moral support. Loved them!!

Emmett is an old high school friend who is in NYC, who Quito hasnt talked to in about 15 years...more on that once you read the book!

Quito's dad also plays a big role in this book, which was heartwarming to see the family connection. Lots of Filipino food references and Tagalog - here for it!

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

Title: All the Right Notes
Author: Dominic Lim
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

I received a copy of All the Right Notes from NetGalley, thank you NetGalley!

The story follows Quito Cruz, a pianist and composer living in New York. As we follow Quito, we learn that he has a history with one of the biggest celebrities, Emmett Aoki. Throughout the story, we follow Quito as he tries to reconnect with Emmett to have him help put on a farewell performance for Quito's dad back in their hometown.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was a refreshing take in the M/M romance genre. I thought the cast of characters were well developed and relatable. I really appreciated the diversity in this book. I feel like it is so important and Lim did a wonderful job weaving this into the story.

I liked the alternating chapters between the present and the past as we learn more about Quito and Emmett's relationship. I felt that Lim did a great job writing the chapters in a way that made me excited to get to the next one. My small feedback is that the past chapters ended about 3/4th of the way through. Once we figured out why Quito and Emmett had a falling out, the past chapters stopped. While I understand the reason for these chapters were to show us their falling out, I did find myself wishing that they continued throughout the rest of the book.

Overall, I think this is such a solid read. The plot, the characters, and the writing style really made this book one of my top reads. I look forward to any new works Lim may come out with.

This book snuck up on me. It was a 3.5-4 star for most of my reading time, and then, at a point about 80% in, I realized my cheeks were moist!! And as the end came, I began sobbing much more openly. Most definitely recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Most definitely buying for our library.

All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim captures some of my favorite tropes/themes. I love the movie star falling in love theme and the second-chance romance trope. I'll look forward to reading more from Lim.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

this was one of my most anticipated reads for this year, and it certainly did not disappoint! i adore all things music and musical theatre, as someone who did choir and theatre in high school, so this romance piqued my interest immediately.

my favorite thing about this book has to be how tender all of the relationships are; with the main character, quito, and his father, quito and the love interest, emmett, emmett and quito's dad, quito and jima. i can tell that this book was crafted with true heart because that heart shines through in the characters. i also love how the timeline cut between then and now, between quito's past young adulthood and present day adulthood. the switch helped tell the main thread of the story while giving just as much backstory as we needed, not to mention each chapter left with a pressing note that made me want to stay in that time in a good way; the mini cliffhangers helped build anticipation. the saturation of fillipino culture and music culture gave this book such vivid and clear voice, and i loved learning new things about both.

i will definitely keep dominic lim on my radar for when he has new releases because i had such a lovely time with this read! 4.5 stars

Beautiful, moving, and deeply queer. This is not your typical movie star/commoner romance. Quito is a pretty ordinary character- in that he’s just like you and me. He isn’t hot or particularly cool in his own eyes and has had his fair share of struggles. While Emmett is the dashing Prince Charming type. Lim has managed to make him much more than just a hot guy to lust over. Both characters are surprisingly real and flawed and their story is more beautiful because of it. Lim’s entire cast of characters here are well-rounded and easily recognizable as people you know in real life. All the Right Notes handles the struggle of queer identity with grace and hope. I sobbed my way through some of the scenes and rejoiced in just as many. There are parts of this book that are etched in my mind as clearly as if I had actually lived those experiences. Bravo!

... enjoyed this. It took a really long time for it to hook me, and I wasn't sure how I felt about the main characters until almost the very end. I did really like them in the end, however.

Quito was sort of faded for most of the book. He was just drifting along, letting past misunderstandings and people he knew drag him around. It made him hard to connect with or like. Emmett was colored by those misunderstandings (and his own mistakes) and so it was hard to like him until the end either, when all the past/present storylines came together and his character was revealed.

I do think that this is billed as something it really isn't. It's not a romcom and it's not really hilarous or joyous. For the most part it's more sad than anything. And it's more about Quito learning to trust himself and open himself to others than it is a romance.

I listened to the audio and while it was well-done, if I hadn't been in the midst of a painting project and too busy to change to a different book I don't think I'd have finished this.

*Thanks to netgalley and Forever for providing an early copy for review.

Lim does a great job of integrating music into prose in a fun and engaging way. The romance feels like a Hallmark story of a protagonist returning home to find it held what they needed all along but with a famous person twist.

Oh boy, All the Right Notes hit me directly in the heart. My husband is Filipino so I think that helped me have an added connection to the story and characters. This book was heartbreakingly sweet, and I found myself laughing out loud and almost crying throughout. Quito was such a complex yet relatable character, and I love his relationship with Emmett. You could tell Emmett really liked him from the start and Quito was just not getting the hints, which added so much sweetness to the story.

Of course the real start of the show was Quito's dad. He was hilarious and literally played the long game to help Quito and Emmett find their way back to each other. I absolutely lost it when his dad passed at the end of the story because I loved him so much. But I'm still happy with how the book wrapped up and will be singing it's praises to everyone I know.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the e-ARC of ALL THE RIGHT NOTES by Dominic Lim in exchange for a review.

A delightful book with an appealing main character and a sweet second chance love story (so much pining!) Loved it!

This book is sweet, swoony, and a music lover's dream romance. The connection between Quito and Emmett is so clear. This book had me holding back tears at the end and it is truly a triumphant debut.

On the surface this book is a second chance romance told in a dual timeline…but it’s also so much more. It’s an emotional exploration of queer love, family, grief, and growing up. It’s also infused with Filipino culture and the food descriptions are drool worthy.

Music is an integral part of the storyline as both the author and the main character attended the Oberlin Conservatory. In fact I highly recommend reading this book in audio as music written by the author is included. It really makes the audiobook an extra special experience.

As a side note, part of the early timeline takes place during the college years so it was wild (and nostalgic) for me to read about fondly remembered events and locales.

The side characters are wonderful especially Ujima. I would love a sequel exploring a romance for them.

My only issue with the book is that I question labeling it as a rom-com. There are definitely comedic moments, but the teenage angst and adult grief both hit pretty hard. The author did include thoughtful CW’s at the beginning of the book which I appreciate and encourage others to take heed of.

Overall this book is highly entertaining and engagingly written. I look forward to more from my fellow Obie!

This romance was a breath of fresh air, providing excellent representation for POC, the queer community, and Filipino-Americans. I appreciated the nuanced exploration of self-discovery intertwined with the experience of falling in love. The portrayal felt authentic and was meticulously crafted, approached with sensitivity and respect.

Thank you so so so much to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!!!!
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I started All The Right Notes on my way to work one day and, despite then spending 17hrs in a theatre that weekend, I finished it that evening. It built me, and broke me, and built me again in the best way. Some pages will be tear-stained forever. The characters...I know these people. The NYC scenes...I have been to and worked in these places. For once, I don't have to imagine living in this book universe because I do. And that made everything from joy to sadness that much more visceral and real. I can't thank Estelle, the head of Marketing at Forever, for knowing I needed this book in my life.
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I had the absolute pleasure of attending a book signing for All The Right Notes, at which Lim was joined by the audio book narrator to read some passages, sing some songs, and answer questions. It was beyond clear how much of himself the author poured into these pages, with true care and passion for these characters. I cannot wait for Lim's next book!