This was really cute! Similar to a lot of 2nd chance but definitely more interesting with the rivals-to-lovers aspect. I loved the conversations about identity and internalized homophobia, and the trans characters/diversity! Overall I enjoyed this, however I oftentimes needed to google translate because majority of the Spanish conversations had little interpretation for non-Spanish-speaking readers to fully try to figure out what the meaning is.

I absolutely loved Jonny Garza Villa’s book, Ander and Santi Were Here and when I saw this book (and it’s equally adorable cover!), I knew I wanted to check it out. I enjoy YA as an adult, but felt this was definitely more for teens, which is awesome! As a Chicana, I absolutely fell in love with Garza Villa’s writing previously and it shone through again in this book—I absolutely love the English/Spanish and know that a lot of my friends and family would love this as it’s how many of us talk! The mariachi plot in this was amazing and I love seeing this beautiful culture being portrayed in such an awesome way! I couldn’t recommend this book any more!

This is a book that is definitely for teens, which is a good thing! Teens should have sex positive YA books, especially queer sex positive YA books. But those books are not enjoyable/comfortable for me to read as an adult - which is okay because I should not be the target audience for YA books and too often adult millennial white women ARE the target audience of YA books!

Outside of that, I really struggled to like the main character in this, which took my rating down. I did think the mariachi plots were very interesting though, and I love how Garza Villa infuses his books with Spanish.

Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa (coming next year) was the perfect book to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with!! Rafie is a mariachi star, 3 time award winner, and now he’s transferring to a new school his senior year. What should be a given, him becoming the lead singer of his new school’s mariachi group, becomes a difficult situation when they already have a lead singer…a guy he may or may not have made out with a couple months earlier. Which is greater: the need to be the best, to be the lead, or the need to be loved?

What a fun book! As a Spanish teacher, I loved all the codeswitching (Spanish and English intermixed) and cultural mentions! It was fun reading about different artists whose songs I play in class, but more importantly seeing how the author used gender neutral language was mindblowing!! So many characters had non-hetero sexualities and non-cis gender identities, and seeing how each person was embraced, loved, and addressed with controversial gender neutral pronouns was beyond beautiful! There should be nothing controversial about respecting everyone for who they are! If you like music, lgbtq+ representation, enemies to lovers, second chances, and Spanish language/culture, Canto Contigo is the perfect book for you

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 stars)

Canto Contigo is Jonny Garza Villa's most reassuring book. There is always pain in their stories—this one is about grief and loss, as well as the expectations we place on ourselves—but Canto Contigo is also extremely warm and inspiring.

Those two books share so many similarities. Teens with a common past who re-connect when one of them moves. From enemies to lovers, (friends to) rivals. Boys who are prickly and proud. BIPOC MCs with a passion for their culture. A MC/LI trans. A lovely and intimate cover. And they're both love songs.

Canto Contigo is the most comforting of Jonny Garza Villa’s books. There’s always hurt in their stories—this one is about grief and loss and the expectations we put on ourselves—but Canto Contigo is also incredibly warm and uplifting.
 
From the moment I started reading this novel, it reminded me of Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min (pick it up if you haven’t yet. It’s one of the best YA books ever). Those two books have so much in common. Teens with a shared past who meet each other again after one of them moves. (Friends to) rivals to lovers. Prickly and proud boys. BIPOC MC’s and so much love for their culture. A trans MC/LI. A beautiful and intimate cover. And both are love songs to music, in this case, Mariachi (Mexican music).
 
Rey is the cinnamon roll in this story. And as Jonny states, a Cancer sun who shows himself to be much more tenacious than anticipated. Rafie thinks he’s the best and wants to fulfill his dreams at any cost. As Jonny states, a Leo sun with a bit of a God complex. It might make Rafie unlikable, but his grief is already palpable in the first chapter and therefore I understood so well why he was so (overly) passionate and needed to be the best. I felt his want to make his Abuelo proud in every line.

Canto Contigo feels bright, even when the sun dimmed. Even when grief and darker thoughts took over. Even when Rafie made disputable decisions. The rivals-to-lovers trope is one of my favorite and laughs bubbled up from my belly when those guys hated each other but secretly had fallen for the other so hard already. The love those boys had for their music was simply beautiful, and I adored how they started opening up to each other more and more. When Rafie’s grief started to pour out, the story felt a bit sadder but still so heartwarming and it meant time for healing too. And the last chapters made me smile again so hard!!

Oh, and that title? I didn’t know what it meant before, but now I know it’s so beautiful!

Jonny Garza villa is an auto buy author for me. After reading their first book (Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun), seeing how much their writing style matured and changed and made me fall absolutely in love with Ander and Santi Were Here— it was an absolute joy to receive an arc of Canto Contigo.


Canto Contigo is a beautiful novel that deals with everything from grieving the loss of a family member, sexuality and gender identity, first love, and the epic highs and lows of high school mariachi
While Canto Contigo is technically YA, the writing style is so present and emotional that it feels surprisingly mature for the content, even when the narrator is complaining about saturday detentions. It’s one of the things that sets Jonny’s books apart from other YA novels for me. They make it so easy to fall in love with their characters and root for them throughout the entirety of the story.
Rafie is a headstrong, confident character who is convinced he needs to be the best, needs to be the lead, front and center, in order to be good enough. For himself and for his abuelo. Rey is the current lead singer in their mariachi group; he is sweet and loyal, and trying his best to do what’s best for himself and the group. The animosity between these two is frustrating and amusing. You almost want to shake them and yell “just kiss and make up already!”. Their individual growth and growth together as a couple and as co-lead singers is really wonderful to read. The emotion, both painful and tenderly romantic, holds your heart between the pages.
I absolutely love all of JGV’s books, and I am excited to see what they write next.
I can’t wait to get a physical copy of Canto Contigo when it comes out in the spring 🖤

I loved this story. It is written with such warmth and compassion. I went into it not knowing anything about it except what i could gather from the cover. I came out with an amazing playlist and all the feels.

The story takes place in the world of high school competitive mariachi bands. It is a rivals-to-lovers second chance romance of sorts.

It addresses issues in communities of color around mental health (“your brain doesn’t get colds”). But it also shows how rich Mexican culture is. The parents might not be perfect but there is love and understanding through the language of music and food.

The Spanish phrases sprinkled throughout the book might overwhelm some readers but I enjoyed that.

"Canto Contigo" by Jonny Garza Villa sounds like a heartfelt and engaging story that beautifully weaves together elements of culture, music, and romance. The premise of a Mariachi star navigating the challenges of a new school, a new romance, and the pursuit of his passion promises an emotionally resonant and captivating narrative.

The novel appears to offer a unique exploration of Mexican culture, highlighting the significance of family, tradition, and legacy. It seems to delve into the complexities of identity and self-discovery as the protagonist, Rafael Alvarez, grapples with leaving behind his group and dealing with the loss of his abuelo while pursuing his dreams.

The romantic aspect of the story, with Rey Chavez as both a rival and a love interest, adds depth and intrigue to the plot. The tension between competition and attraction is a classic trope that often leads to a compelling and emotionally charged narrative.

Overall, "Canto Contigo" appears to be a touching and authentic love letter to Mexican culture and music. It promises to explore themes of family, identity, and the pursuit of one's passions, making it a compelling read for those interested in diverse romances and stories that celebrate cultural heritage.

This was such a wonderful read that I finished it in under a day! A vibrant, heartwarming rivals-to-lovers tale that will leave you cheering for Rafie all the way. I really adored the narrative voice, the pacing kept me engaged the entire time, and I felt fully immersed in Mexican culture. I've always been a fan of stories that focus on family, and getting to see Rafie's journey as he dealt with his grief was incredibly touching. After all, what is grief, if not love persevering?

I'm a big fan of Jonny Garza Villa and have read Ander & Santi Were Here, so I'm very grateful for the opportunity to review his most recent work!