THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO: friends to lovers, Asian American rep (Japanese, biracial, Filipino), non-binary bestie, big feels!, alternating timeline

CWs: death of a parent, abusive parent, alcoholism, cheating, bullying, sexual assault, drug and alcohol use, MISCOMMUNICATION, hospitalization, commentary on young women’s clothing choices

>> this book had me up until the wee hours of the morning trying to get to that first kiss! (it’s my toxic book trait if we’re being honest.)

that being said… while i do love Emmett and Quito, i cannot get over a MAJOR PLOT POINT (dm if you want/ need a spoiler) that led them to not talking for 20 years… and they just breezed on by like it was nothing. spoiler… it wasn’t nothing and i cannot suspend reality to assume that such a thing would ever have gone down. EVER.

i also did NOT like that this grown ass man (Quito is in his late 30s) had a random af comment about a young woman’s clothing choice??? like wtaf my guy, you are taking over your dad’s classroom and the one not-plot related comment is about how a girl “squeezed herself into a dress when she didn’t even know how beautiful she was” (paraphrasing).

no.

>>> these are really the biggest issues i had but i did love Emmett and Quito’s romantic tension. i just think better editing was needed.

If you are looking for a wholesome friends to lovers reuniting story with a musical theater twist then look no further!! I loved this book! I mainly listened on audio but read along in my physical copy!

This audio book is fantastic! @aaronjalbano did such a great job and really made the characters come to life! There were so many small touches that took this audiobook to the next level for me! I loved that Aaron sang the songs in the book! This will be a go-to audiobook recommendation for me!!

I can’t wait to see what Dominic Lim does in the future after this great debut! Next time you are looking for a great queer book with Asian representation pick this up!!

I thoroughly enjoyed All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim. It was a sweet, fun and powerful exploration of self-identity, purpose and family. Complete with a vibrant cast of characters that leapt off the page, All the Right Notes is a book I most definitely recommend checking out.

Split between the timelines of then (high school 20 years ago) and now (present day), the two timelines are successfully capture the very different feels of those times. Then examines the history of the friendship between Quito, musical prodigy and son of the choir director, and Emmett, high school royalty, jock and future movie star. Now examines Quito's life in New York that hasn't lived up to expectations. He hasn't been able to compose since college. When his father calls and tells him to bring Emmett, who he hasn't spoken to in nearly twenty years, to perform at his retirement concert, their lives are put back on a collision course.

I think one of the most magnetic pieces of this book is how fully Lim is able to flesh out this world. Both when it comes to music and art, and food, the book feels very visceral and ready to leap off the page. Both Quito and Emmett and incredibly dynamic and I fell in love with them both.

This was a much more emotional read than I was expecting, but I think these kinds of stakes really added to the whole experience of reading the book.

Really, really enjoyed it!

4 stars!

I loved "All the Right Notes" by Dominic Lim! This is such a heartfelt, terrific queer love story! Right from the get-go, I was drawn into Quito and Emmett's story, one that jumps back and forth on a timeline between their time in high school and the present day. Quito has always struggled with self-confidence. He is a tremendous piano player, but he has aspirations to write the music for a Broadway musical one day. When he was in high school, Quito's father, Mr. Cruz, the choir director, tasked Quito with working with Emmett, who is a super-smart jock with a wickedly talented singing voice, tons of charisma, and looks that could kill. Quito quickly falls for Emmett but doesn't know if he's a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Still, there are definite sparks between them, but nothing really happens. After they graduate from high school, they then go to college, and we discover why they haven't talked to one another in many, many years. In the present day, Quito plays piano at a piano bar in New York City, and Emmett is a big-time actor. When they reunite, the sparks they once had for each other definitely still fly. As they rekindle their relationship, we learn more about their past, and we see how their second chance may unfold in the present. As crucial as Quito and Emmett's relationship is to the story, Quito's relationship with his father is also central to the plot.... and it might even outshine the romantic aspect! I simply loved their dynamic, and I think it makes the book as strong and as successful as it is. I appreciated how accepting and caring Mr. Cruz was to both Quito AND Emmett as their high school choir director. His unwavering support makes this book as good as it is. Mr. Cruz constantly pushed Quito to go after his dreams and never judged him for who he was. He also meddles quite a bit in Quito's life, which adds a lot of fun shenanigans to the story. The Filipino representation is stellar in this book! I appreciated the heck out of the music-related plot. I also loved Ujima as a secondary character! Great book, please read it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dominic Lim, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I love this book so much but listening on audio is an even better experience! The fact that the songs are actually sung in the audiobook is just chef's kiss. This is such a sweet story, Emmet and Quito are the cutest. And Quito's dad and Ujima are the best. This is a fun story told in two timelines (highschool/college and now) I wasn't a fan of the Mark storyline, but everything else was just fabulous.

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad slow-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5

Overall this book is very cute. However I never felt super drawn or excited about the character.
I think this book is a great example of a romance that would've benefited from a dual POV. The flashbacks were done well, the relationship was believable and overall sweet, but I found myself caring about literally everyone else but the MC.

This was a sweet, heartwarming story. It just felt a bit forced and cheesy at times. It had a lot of potential for some deep emotional beats, but to me it fell a bit short.

Absolutely adored this romance all about second chances. Loved the musical side to it, and the characters were so well-drawn and vivid. A must-read for rom lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: homophobia, slurs, parental death (on page), cheating, sexual assault (on page), family tensions, abusive relationship (non-MCs) briefly mentioned, car accident, ableist language, bi/pan erasure

There was a lot I enjoyed about this book. Just the lyricism and clear passion for music and musicals. Someone who is trying to find himself in this world. It continues to be a joy to see queer and diverse romance take its much needed space on all of our shelves. Also a shoutout to both the author and publisher for including a CW at the beginning of the book.

But I struggled with the binary nature of how sexuality was presented in this book. Quito believed that Emmett was either straight or gay, and could not contemplate that he was in fact bi/pan and there was nothing to indicate otherwise. While I don't think this was the intent of the author it was something in a book that truly wanted to celebrate queer and diverse stories was something I struggled with.

Steam: 2

✨ Review ✨ All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim

A delight of a dual-timeline queer romance!

In the past -- Quito, a genius piano player already as a high schooler, develops a friendship with hot-shot athlete Emmett after he joins choir and Quito's dad, the choir director, tasks them to work together on a song.

In the present -- Quito's playing at a piano bar in NYC, and his dad asks him to get Emmett (now a famous actor!) to attend his retirement concert back at the high school the boys attended.

It brings big West Coast + East Coast energy across the two timelines as we watch their stories play out. There's tons of Filipino food, immigrant family love, friendship, and heartbreak that moves through these pages. I laughed and cried as the story progressed, and there was something so comforting and lovely about it all.

Special props to Ujima, Quito's NYC drag queen roommate who's honestly the star of the show (and the whole premise of Onederland was A++) and Mr. Cruz, Quito's dad who's just so darn lovable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: m/m romance
Setting: NYC and small-town West Coast
Pub Date: out now

Read this if you like:
⭕️ music - Broadway, piano bars, high school choir, talent shows -- this has it all!
⭕️ Filipino-American family love, joy, food, sadness, etc. etc.
⭕️ really sweet queer romances

Thanks to Forever Publishing and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!

I don't know if I can find the words to adequately express how much I enjoyed this book!! It was the perfect marriage of 3 things I love: books, musical theater, and rom-coms! Quito and Emmett have my heart and I loved having the chance to see their story evolve from their first meeting to where they are at book's end. The supporting characters of Mr. Cruz and Ujima, both loving and guiding our MC's throughout the story, while also being distinct and delightful characters in their own right. The book is organized in alternating "now" and "then" chapters until the last quarter of the book, which occurs in the present. I was on the fence about this organizational style at first, but came to really appreciate how it kept us rooted in the present while slowly revealing important information from the past that helped to frame what was currently happening and gave us a chance to get more acquainted with who our characters were. Thank you Dominic Lim for this gorgeous story!!

Read if you enjoy:
* Diverse representation
* Music and/or Musical Theater
* HEA's

Trigger Warnings: sudden loss of parent, homophobia
Huge thanks to the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I cannot wait to add a physical copy to my shelf!

"All the Right Notes" was a truly special story that captured the tension of first love and coming out and the specific, special details between Quito and Emmett that really capture their love through time. I loved Jee as a constant supportive friend and thoughtfully crafted character in their own right. As someone who is not particularly musical myself, I was in awe of the way that Lim described the connection that Quito had to music and how it grew with him as he grew up. The retirement concert was very sweet and made a sad ending very meaningful.

All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim
This book! Swoon! Sigh! Love!

I got an email about this book from the publisher. It was already published, but they were looking for additional reviewers on NetGalley. The email was something along the lines of Hi, you liked a book in a similar genre, want to try this one? Sure I thought, why not. I'm so glad I did!

Things I am here for:
LGBTQIA2S+ representation
Asian and Pacific Islander representation
Music!
The way that Quito processes music is so beautiful
The bond that Quito and Emmett have, for decades
Emmett finding his authentic self
Ujima, all of Ujima. The genuine lovely reactions they get from people: Security Tariq, Nurse Brian, Milton. Swoon!
Quito's explanation about using they/them pronouns for Ujima and how it's easy. ❤️
Filipino food. So delicious.

I highlighted so many wonderful lines in this book. This one is delightful and shows the fun inside Quito's mind.
"I take a sip of my virgin mojito. It’s smooth, sweet, and latently assertive— the lime tang kicks in at the end. Can a drink be passive-aggressive? If so, I’m in the right place for it."

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Holy wow, she did it. @librariankristyn recommended the first choral romance I have ever deeply loved. Thank you Kristyn for the recommendation and @netgalley for the digital ARC!

Ok folx, things I loved:

🎹 ALL OF THE MUSIC CONTENT HOLDS UP!! You don't understand, every singing or musical storyline almost always leaves me exasperated with its inaccuracies. This one? Dominic Lim with his ACTUAL FOR REAL MUSICAL AND CHORAL EXPERIENCE AND DEGREES simply knocked it out of the park, in everything from his choices of choral repertoire, to the complete and utter lack of cringey musical expressions throughout. I especially loved the dynamic he so lovingly describes between an excellent accompanist and their soloist / choir. There is such magic held in the give and take between the two musical lines.
🎹 The relationship built between Quito and Emmett is constructed with such care and thought that I truly bought into their love story throughout. Any and all struggled and miscommunication felt real and well placed, rather than having a 3rd act breakup just to have one. I loved seeing Quito slowly grow into himself and Emmett day after day make little changes to help himself be happy in the life that he is building for himself.
🎹 Ujima is simply the best supporting character an MC could ever have. If I do not get a book with their love story, I will throw a toddler sized temper tantrum. Their support of the MC and the complete confidence they carry on top of those heels is such an important pillar in this storyline.
🎹 Quito and his father's relationship was so incredibly heartwarming. His father's undying support while still pushing Quito little by little to be the best he can be, without any toxicity, was such a pleasure to read.
🎹 This writing slows you down and forces you to love on every single well formed thought, sentence, paragraph, and page. There is magic in Lim's style of prose.

Things I didn't enjoy:

🤮 Mark. We do not stan Mark. But you're not supposed to, so the true answer? Nothing.

This was a beautiful love letter to the relationship between a father and son wrapped in a second chance romance. I loved the sweet chemistry between Quinto and Emmett and looking back at their history in high school, which takes up a lot of their story. Quinto's friend, Jee, offers a splash of humor in the book, which is otherwise filled with a more somber tone. I loved the Filipino-American background of Quinto's family and how much it shines in the book and that it didn't become a background note.

This is Dominic Lim's debut novel and I can't wait to read what he writes in the future.

Content Warnings: Homophobia, transphobia, outing, cheating, sexual assault, death, death of parent, toxic relationships, sexual content [not graphic but not fade to black either...kind of in the middle?], anxiety, and bullying.

***I received access to an E-Arc through the Forever Influencer program, all thoughts are my own***

OMG, how to start talking about this beautiful book. I loved that we got to see Emmett and Quito from their very first meeting to their reunion as adults.

As someone who lived in the East Bay for...almost 10 years? I loved all the bay references, when it started and they mentioned Martinez I was like, "WHAT! I LIVED THERE!" haha

I also loved all the little Filipino references, especially the lip pointing...if you know...you know haha

This was an absolutely beautiful story about love, family, found family, and acceptance. There are some tear-jerking moments, like my vision was obscured until I could get a tissue 😅

Anyways, this book came out the 6th and I highly recommend reading it 💜

This was wonderful! I absolutely loved every page. The characters were so fleshed out, so real, and I loved them, especially Quito and his roommate, Jee. You will love following Quito's story as he reunites with his high school crush and best friend, Emmett. They plan a choir concert in honor of Quito's dad, who is retiring after many years as choir director of their high school. I laughed, smiled, and cried. Loved this one and hope it's a big hit this summer!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this eARC in exchange for a review.

I think this was a relatively solid debut. There were many aspects that I enjoyed, like the appreciation for music, the Filipino representation, and the development of Quito's relationship with his dad. I also liked Ujima as a character and thought the writing style flowed well in many portions of the book.

However, I do have a couple criticisms. First, I found the romance to be the least convincing aspect of this novel, despite that being what initially drew me to the book. Second, while I liked that the story fluctuated between two timelines, I found the older version of Quito to be a bit immature and judgmental (if I recall correctly, there were a couple instances of bodyshaming and using ableist language). I think it may have made sense to make the characters in the "Now" parts of the story a good few years younger. Lastly, while I adored Ujima, I have some issues with their representation as a nonbinary reader myself. They are misgendered at least once on-page and are treated almost as a caricature, and I wished for a lot more for this character.

Overall, I do think this novel has some strong elements, and I think seeing QPOC joy in literature is so incredibly valuable. While I do have some issues with the representation and the protagonist's language in this story, I feel that Lim has potential as a writer and hope to pick up one of his future works.

4 stars (rounded up)

All The Right Notes hit a lot of the right notes for me. The two main characters are Quito, a Filipino-American and Emmett, whose father is Japanese and whose mother is white. I enjoyed the diversity of these characters. There’s also a ton of music in this story, so that’s another plus for me. Quito and Emmett have a super-slow burn of a love story. So slow that they haven’t talked to each other since an incident in college almost 20 years ago.

My main frustration was with how the story was told, with every other chapter labeled THEN and NOW, because I really wanted to know what had happened to ruin their friendship/relationship.

Although I never participated in a high school choir, I loved those scenes in this book. I also loved how much Filipino culture and food were highlighted.

Quito and Emmett got to know each other in their senior year of high school in the San Francisco Bay area, via the choir. They go to different colleges and lose touch with each other. Quito is a gifted pianist and composer and winds up at Oberlin. After college, he moves to NY and works odd musical jobs.
Emmett becomes a movie star. The story of how they get back together is lovely and revolves around their love for music as well as their mutual love for Quito’s father, who was the HS choir director. I thought the trajectory of how coming out as gay affects a celebrity was very interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

With a balance of heavy and light themes, All the Right Notes still manages to be a quick read. I found Quito's struggle with self-confidence to be incredibly relatable. I didn't struggle with the back and forth timelines which is always a plus and I think I fell in love with Quito's dad just a little bit. The supporting cast is wonderful, the second chance-ish romance was sweet and as any book with rich food descriptions, I needed a snack when it was done.

If you love queer joy, Broadway and found family, I highly recommend All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim. If this is what his first book is like, I can't wait for the next one. Thanks to Forever for an early copy.