Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ALC of The Sound of Us in exchange for an honest review.

Skye Jordan's life takes an unexpected turn after a tragedy, leading her back to college and into the path of Dante Romano, a charismatic DJ. Their connection is not just about music; it runs much deeper. As Skye navigates her career ambitions and her emotional journey, Dante and his campus radio station become not only a source of guidance but also a means of healing.

The beauty of 'The Sound of Us' lies in its portrayal of the transformative power of music. Sarah Castille weaves together a rich story of musical references that will leave your heart singing. From the melodies that set the mood to the emotions that resonate through the lyrics, music becomes the heartbeat of the story.

Although the pace of the story may seem slow at first, it allows for a gradual unfolding of Skye's personal growth and the evolution of her relationship with Dante. It is a testament to the author's skill that the gradual build-up only intensifies the emotional impact. Told through the first-person perspectives of both Skye and Dante in dual point-of-view, readers are treated to a deeply intimate and introspective exploration of their thoughts and feelings.

'The Sound of Us' is not just a love story; it is a mix of emotions, a celebration of resilience, and a reminder that through music, we can heal and find ourselves. Whether you're a music lover or simply seeking a heartfelt tale of self-discovery, this audiobook is sure to strike a chord."

This book fell very short of the great synopsis. I thought it was going to be great but between the slow start and then the repeat of things over and over, I just checked out. The last straw for me was that the male voice wasn't good.
The female narrator was fine.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

Audio Book Review
The Sound of Us
By Sarah Castille
Pub Day: November 26, 2024
Thank you to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
My thoughts: This book will grab your heart! Dante and Skye are two broken souls who never felt good enough and their stories will upset you, but they also make you root for them!
They are connected by their love for music and their extreme attraction for each other. And by the common thread of some pretty big traumas, they had to survive.
Dante comes from an organized crime family, and has lost everyone he loves, and he plans to study law in order to get revenge on his dad for tearing apart his family.
Skye was told she was never good enough by her dad, and she was always striving to please him while putting her own dreams aside.
As much as Dante would love to stay away from Skye so can keep his mind focused on vengeance and lets face it music, he can’t stay away from her.
This is a bit of a slow burn with ups and downs, but it’s also about being young realizing you have to let go of anger and fear and not living up to expectations and just go for your dreams. And if you can do that with someone who loves you by your, side even better.
QOTD: Did you ever write for the school paper or work in college radio?
POSTING ON 10/15 to instagram

I thought this book was very enjoyable! The characters, the story… it was all so good! Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!

What a romance spoken with music. Skye and Dante have an immediate connection and chemistry. They just get each other. Unfortunately, they are also people with deep emotional scars. They must overcome and learn to open up while also finding themselves. I liked the depth they were able to portray. There were also some other situations that were very delicate and really brought some great side stories into their characters development.

Thank you Netgalley, Sarah Castille and Macmillan Audio!
The beginning of this book really started slow for me, if not for it being an ARC I may not have pushed through, which is a shame because by the middle I was fully invested and in the end I had come to be increasingly interested in what would happen with each of the characters. All in all, a solid coming of age/self-discovery romance but it does take some "sticking it out" through the slower beginning.

In “The Sound of Us,” Sarah Castille delivers a captivating story of two tormented souls drawn together by fate and a shared passion for music.

Synopsis:

Skye Jordan once envisioned a bright future in college basketball, hoping to follow in her father’s footsteps as a professional player. A devastating car accident, however, shatters her dreams and forces her to reassess her life’s direction. Returning to Havencrest University, she secures a promising internship at the campus radio station, reigniting her interest in journalism. But when she uncovers a major story that could spark significant upheaval, Skye faces a tough choice: pursue the truth or protect herself.

Dante Romano is a talented bass guitarist whose life is overshadowed by the tragic loss of his mother and sister. Consumed by guilt and a thirst for vengeance, he immerses himself in his music and earning his law degree, which leaves little room for much else. But their undeniable attraction threatens to disrupt the carefully constructed walls around his heart.

Their attraction is intense and magnetic, but both carry deep scars that make trust a daunting hurdle. Skye and Dante must decide if they can overcome their pasts and build a future together.

My Review:

I enjoyed this story of love, healing, and the unifying power of music. Skye and Dante’s shared enthusiasm for music—whether recorded, live, or through their collaborative work at their college radio station—is the foundation for their burgeoning relationship. While exploring each other’s worlds, they learn more about themselves.

Castille handles sensitive topics with care, and I appreciated the strong sense of community depicted in the book. The chemistry between Skye and Dante is rivaled only by their struggles with trust.

This was my first time reading Sarah Castille’s work, and I’m interested in exploring more of her novels.

Thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and the authot for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loooveeeee bad boy musicians. Especially bad boy musicians who have their own radio shows. and tattoos!!

I had no idea what I was getting into this book because I’ve never read anything from this author, but I wasn’t disappointed! It was nice and spicy with like 3.5-4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

(Thank you, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley, for the audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

Loved every second of this book. Loved the narrator, the characters, the plot, didn’t want it to end!! Thanks NetGalley for letting me listen to this

Book Review: The Sound of Us by Sarah Castille
Narrated by: Lila Winters & Thomas Oakley
Publisher: Macmillan Audio

First, I'd like to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in advance.

The Sound of Us by Sarah Castille has the hallmarks of a gripping romance, but it ultimately falls short for me due to its overreliance on character immaturity and a frustrating lack of meaningful communication between the leads. While I typically don’t mind romance in novels, this book leaned heavily into characters fawning over each other without ever making real progress in their relationship.

The story centers around Dante and Sky, both with complicated backgrounds rooted in familial trauma. While I found their individual histories intriguing—particularly the exploration of their difficult childhoods and issues stemming from parental neglect—these emotional scars often played out in repetitive and unconvincing ways. Daddy issues dominated the plot, and while this could have lent the book some depth, it instead made the characters seem stuck in emotional immaturity, struggling to communicate in even the most basic ways.

Dante, in particular, was an exhausting character. His constant vacillation between pushing Sky away and then pulling her back in became tedious. Sky, on the other hand, spends much of the book craving approval from men, particularly due to her past rejection by a father figure. These dynamics made me roll my eyes more often than not, and their interactions lacked the emotional resonance needed to truly engage me.

On the plus side, there are some well-done spicy scenes for those who enjoy heat in their romance novels. The narrators, Lila Winters and Thomas Oakley, did a wonderful job embodying the characters, which added a bit more life to the story. Their performances felt well-suited to Dante and Sky, and they brought a much-needed energy and dimension to the narrative.

Overall, while The Sound of Us had potential, I found it frustratingly bogged down by underdeveloped emotional dynamics and characters who rarely moved past their baggage. If you're looking for a romance filled with angst and drama, this might appeal to you, but for me, the immaturity of the characters was hard to overlook.

The Sound of Us by Sarah Castille is a captivating romance novel that intertwines themes of music and self-discovery. The story follows Skye Jordan, a college student who returns to Havencrest U after a personal tragedy derails her dreams. She crosses paths with DJ Dante Romano, a musician burdened by loss and guilt. Their connection, forged through shared passions and emotional scars, develops into a deep romance. The book is engaging, the characters are relatable, and enjoyable musical backdrop. Though some dialogue seems forced and the pacing initially slow it’s a good read.

This book started out good, with enough backstory for one to be interested in details. However, it quickly became repetitive, predictable and boring. The song references were nice, but this has been done many times and better. (Drive by Kate Stewart for example. )
Narration was ok.

I received this book as an ALC from Netgalley.

I technically give it 3.5 stars. It was a cute book with lots of music references and, at a bit deeper level, talked about overcoming past hurts. There was quite a bit of spice that I found corny at times.

I'd love to read something else by this author.

Music was a big part of the story and I loved it. Skye and Dante have dealt with their share of issues, together they help one another overcome and share their love of music. Beautifully written forbidden but not really friends to lovers romance.

I’ve received this as a ALC FROM NETGALLEY Thank you to the publisher and author for this early access!

Narrated by Lila Winters; Thomas Oakley

This was a sweet, beautiful and spicy. This is a new to me author and I’m definitely going to be reading more from her in the future!

They say music is a universal language…

Skye Jordan thought she had it all figured out. Eighteen months ago, she was in college and dreaming of a basketball career. But in a split second her world fell apart. Now she’s back at Havencrest U, broke and desperate. She has no use for sexy, bad boy musicians who kiss her senseless. . . until she lands an internship at the radio station where he works.

DJ Dante Romano has lost every person close to his heart. All he has is his music. Consumed by guilt and driven by vengeance, he has no time for love, and yet the fiery new intern who shares his passion and feels his pain tempts him like no other. For Dante, Skye is off limits. And yet from the moment he meets her, he can’t turn away.

Soon their scorching attraction develops into something deeper. Together they could make beautiful music, but will their untold secrets force them apart?

I wanted so badly to like this but it just did not hold my interest at all. It was a little too angsty for my personal preference, but would probably be a good read for people who really enjoy an angsty YA novel. I did enjoy the cute music and lyric references and some of the character back story. Just too much fawning for my taste.

I couldn't get into the story the characters were kind of annoying. The narrator didn't help I think I may have liked this more as a physical book.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

What a great romcom!! This is a first for me by this author but will not be my last. It was such a cute story! The writing style is great and I loved the characters chemistry.

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read traditionally instead of listening to the audio. It was beautiful, but the audio was not my favorite. I wouldn't say the storyline was exciting. I wish it was, but this would be a nice easy read if you are just looking for a comfort story before bed.

Loved it! A beautiful story of self-discovery and unexpected love. The music was a nice touch. Great characters, well-paced, and I enjoyed the college setting.

Special thanks to Sarah Castille, Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC. The Sound of Us is narrated by Lila Winters and Thomas Oakley. I really enjoyed both narrators.

Publication Date is Nov 26 2024