Coming of age, magical realism, set to a kicking soundtrack. I really enjoyed this novel in its entirety.

It was a little slow getting started for me and I was starting to wonder about the 30% mark if this book was going to be for me. Which made me sad because I love pretty much everything to do with this author. But this book really picks up and ends with the bang at the end. We have a group of three friends that finds that they can cast magical spells using certain records and songs to accomplish what they're setting up to do. But this drives a wedge between them and different Social aspects come to that influence their decisions. Watching this group of friends fall apart and come back together was absolutely one of my favorite parts of this book. I definitely felt conflicting feelings for all of the characters at times and it really created an emotional connection by the end of the book. if I hadn't had such a struggle getting into the book for the 30% this would've been a five star read, but since I had a hard time connecting with any part of the story in the beginning, I couldn't give it anything higher. It will never be one of my favorite books by this author, but it's still a very high rated book for me and I did enjoy it.

I did do a tandem read on this novel with the audiobook from NetGalley so thank you to NetGalley for the free audiobook and the physical book which I did purchase myself. I found the audiobook and the physical book to be extremely true to each other, and I enjoyed the narrator and the tone, tempo and voice that she used.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's storytelling never disappoints. Her ability to create vivid and memorable characters in this delightful story is truly remarkable. It's a heartwarming tale filled with nostalgic music, compelling characters, a perfect setting, family dynamics, and a touch of magic. The authentic portrayal of relationships in Silvia's writing is incredibly relatable and adds depth to the story. Thank you very much to spotify audio and netgalley to the access to this audiobook

Signal to Noise follows Meche and her two best friends, Sebastian and Daniela as the novel oscillates between 1988 when they were in high school together in Mexico City and in 2009 when Meche returns to Mexico City for her father's funeral after having moved to Sweden. In 1988, Meche and her friends start dabbling in magic fueled by vinyl records. In 2009, Meche begins to reckon with her past as her friends re-appear in her life.

If there is one thing you can count on in Silvia Moreno-Garcia novels it’s going to be beautifully developed characters. We delve deep into what is making everyone tick. Although Meche is the main character, we get so much depth in Sebastian, Daniela, and Meche’s parents and grandmother. You get such a good sense of how everyone clicks together and I loved seeing how the interactions between the characters ebbed and flowed between 1988 and 2009.

You see a bit of the shape of Silver Nitrate in Signal to Noise, except we have vinyl as the magical catalyst, rather than film. I really appreciated how she bestowed power to the records. Their potency increases depending on the copy, and I loved how that ties into spending time flipping through trying to find just the right one.

I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator does a good job, no complaints, but I didn't quite feel her bringing everyone to life like I would hope for.

All in all, I definitely recommend this book. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Spotify Studios for the advanced copy.

This was a really enjoyable book. Signal to Noise was the story of a woman coming home for a funeral after years away. It is told in two separate times, in Meche's teen years and years later on her return trip home. One story building up to the moment that fractures a deep friendship and the other building up to some sort of reconciliation years in the making. It was a good story with intriguing characterization and it felt realistic in spite of the magical elements.

This is the second novel I've written by this author and if they are all this good I'll keep going.

Thanks NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

In the late 80s in Mexico City three friends discover they can do magic through music. At first they use it to improve their lives in small ways, but then it becomes a tool for revenge and like with most stories of magic in a group of friends someone gets a taste for it, When things reach a head, the trio go their separate ways and only reconnect decades later when the ring leaders father has passed away.

I liked the back-and-forth from the past to the present. It helped you get a full picture of the friends and their relationships with each other. However, they’re never seem to be any clear conclusion to the story. And I don’t understand the repetition of chapter 20 in chapter 22 when there was no new information shared unless I totally missed something.

Was a unique story and I think it really could’ve been something great but for me, it fell A little short.

This book was a reread for me since it was published before and it was just as beautifully crafted, nostalgic and heartfelt as I remembered it being. Sylvia has a poetic turn of phrase. The high emotions of youth are so strongly portrayed and as always the setting of Mexico is vivid and magical.

I really enjoyed this book. It's the first by the author that I've read. The cover is gorgeous, and intrigued me along with a description. I thought it was 100% YA but with the past and present timelines it could be either or both? I love the magical elements, and the music / records references. It was a really cool concept. I did get a little confused when it jumped back and forth because I was listening to it. But it didn't take long for me to figure out where I was. By the first quarter of the book I thought I was definitely going to give it five stars. But through the middle to the end I think I'm going to land on the 3.75. it was fun and I really enjoyed it, but I don't know if I could really recommend it. Maybe a teen who likes magic and music.

This SMG hit very mid for me-- typically her books always hit at 4 stars for me so this was a bit of a let down in comparsion.

In other SMG books, she's used a modern tech style of magic (see: Velvet was the Night) and she's done it in way where it makes enough sense for me to buy it. But Signal to Noise didn't quite have that. The magic just didn't click for me and I didn't feel the concept behind it.

My other main complaint was Meche. In both of the time lines, she acted like a child. Like clearly the events of the past stunted her emotional growth but she was a grown woman acting like a petty child in the current timeline. It just made it really frustrating to read. This also meant there was no one I was rooting for while reading so it was hard to stay engaged.

So far this is the "odd on out" for SMG books imo so it won't detract me from reading her other works.

I've said it before, but Moreno-Garcia is an auto-read author for me. This was one of her backlog that I hadn't gotten to yet, so I was excited to receive a copy from NetGalley. This was a great depiction of teen friendship and the damage we can do to each other when we feel scared and out of control. Moreno-Garcia flawlessly captured the angst of being a teenaged outcast who feels like they do not and will not ever belong anywhere. The story of the three friends, how they discover their magic, and how it ultimately drives them apart is very well written. Definitely enjoyed the read!

Signal to Noise, Silvia Moreno-Garcia's debut novel, is set to be re-released on August 19th. The story unfolds in Mexico City during two separate timelines: the 1980s and the early 2000s. The novel follows the emotional journey of Meche, Sebastian, and Daniela as they navigate high school life and their relationships with family, peers, and each other. The addition of casting spells using music adds depth to the narrative. The protagonist, Meche, returns home after 20 years triggered by her father's passing, prompting her to question the past and come to terms with betrayals, loss, and grief.

While Signal to Noise may not be my favorite Silvia Moreno-Garcia novel, it is undeniably a solid and beautiful debut. Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing gift lies in incredible character development, which shines through in Signal to Noise. As a fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's later works, I'm biased as she is already an auto-buy author for me. I would like to express my deep appreciation to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance. The narrator was fantastic!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This book was incredible! I am at a lose for words that can adequately convey how much I loved this book. Silvia is an incredible author because she creates amazing and complex characters who are flawed and yet lovable. Throughout the book I felt for all of them and adored the way in which the past and present were brought together in this book. The way in which music was used as a form of magic was wonderful and a form of truth as music is magical.
Silvia has become one of my favorite authors and is an auto buy author for me now. I adore how all of her books are so different and how she creates wonderful stories with amazing characters.

3.5 stars!

I truly couldn’t tell that this was a re-publishing of Moreno-Garcia’s debut book! It was a really well-done coming of age story and also touched on friendships, grief, and family trauma. I loved the magical realism and how different songs were portrayed when it came to the magic. The prose did feel a bit choppy at times and there was a lot more telling vs. showing. I did like the characters, but Meche did drive me up the wall at times. Overall I really liked this one, but the execution did fall flat in a few areas.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This reprinting wasn't necessarily for me, though I can see the appeal! It was a DNF for me, with a younger writing style than I'm used to from her short stories. I definitely think it will work well for YA readers and adult readers who are interested in magic and drama, or fans of something like The Magicians, but the drama made me put it down. I did love the audiobook narrator and will still try other things by this author in the future, but this writing style didn't work for me.

Thanks, netgalley and spotify audiobooks for this audio ARC!

Meche returns to mexico city for the death of her estranged father after years of running from memories. In high school, she discovered she and her best friends had the power to cast spells with music, and her rage took things too far. In returning home, she opens old wounds, but may have the help of an old friend to finally, finally heal.

One, how did i miss this book for the last nine years because it is so deeply in my wheelhouse of emo girl witch shit, and two, i just deeply enjoy silvia moreno-garcia in the horror/fantasy landscape. I see why this was the book to put her on the map, and i also am so impressed with her growth as an author since then.

I am familiar with kyla garcia as a narrator from "there, there" and "i am not your perfect mexican daughter" and she is just phenomenal. There is something about a good narrator that just lets you know that the story is going to be great. it's knowing you're in good hands. Would recommend this audiobook to anyone who loves a spooky lil treat.

This was narrated excellently. I loved the distinct voices for each character, and they perfectly represented how the characters sounded in my head. The story of music and magic and Mexico City is brought to life in the way that only Silvia Moreno-Garcia can do it. The timeline jumping between 1988/89 and 2009, and to 2004 at the end is brilliant. Signal to Noise not only tells the story of music that can bring magic to life, but also the confusing times of adolescence. I was really invested in this book, and will miss these characters. Add this to the list of ending chapters/lines that I will think about for a long time

Mexico City, 1988: Long before iTunes or MP3s, you said "I love you" with a mixtape. Meche, awkward and fifteen, has two equally unhip friends – Sebastian and Daniela – and a whole lot of vinyl records to keep her company. When she discovers how to cast spells using music, the future looks brighter for the trio.

Mexico City, 2009: Two decades after abandoning the metropolis, Meche returns for her estranged father's funeral. It's hard enough to cope with her family, but then she runs into Sebastian, reviving memories from her childhood she thought she buried a long time ago.

This was such a creative story. I really enjoyed the way music and magic wove both together and throughout the story. I enjoyed rhe dynamic of the three childhood friends and how we got to see how much changed between them as a group and as individuals over the years. There were complicated and emotions dealing with an absent father, something I know far too well and could connect to in so many ways - that kind of grief and longing was written really well.

Which, speaking of, Silvia writes beautifully and paired with the narration made for an easy listen of a book that faced a lot of deeper subjects. This story was slower paced, but in a way that worked well and was at times heartbreaking and uplifting, magical and realistic, foreboding and reflective - I really enjoyed this experience.

Thank you Spotify and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this re-release!

This is a dual timeline with a coming of age story about three friends growing up in Mexico City in the late 80’s and twenty years later when the main character comes back for her father’s funeral. In the 80’s timeline the three friends discover magic that’s connected to music, and in the later timeline you find that there was a falling out between the friends.

I thought the premise and the story as a whole was good and engaging, but I did find the book boring compared to later works by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The book explores teenage friendship, parental divorce, bullying, and the trauma that can come along with growing up. While I enjoyed it overall, I don’t think it’s SMG’s best work. I really liked the musical references and overall feel of the novel. Even though this one didn’t grip me enough to keep me interested throughout, her writing is still impeccable. The narrator Kyla Garcia did a great job capturing the tone of this book and depicting each character in their own styles.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia created one of my favorite books of all time with “Mexican Gothic” and she gifted me with one of the most unique vampire books with “Certain Dark Things”. She became a titular part of my October reads, but this book felt like it was written by someone else entirely. The writing was still good, since Silvia Moreno-Garcia is incapable of being a bad author, but this book was boring. Literally nothing happened. Sometimes, if the plot is nonexistent in books, the characters make up for it. That was NOT the case with this book. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, so I found myself just pushing through this book rather than enjoying it.

Every time I read the premise for a Silvia Moreno-Garcia book, I think to myself, “I’m not sure I’m going to like this.” And every time I’m wrong.

This is a really gorgeously written and original piece of fiction based on the slightly bonkers-sounding premise of playing records to gain magical powers. It winds up being a lot more logical and perfectly rendered than it sounds, but the real prize here is the characters.

Meche and Sebo are, in a way, both a friends to lovers and a second chance romance pairing, but the story is so much more complex and interesting than just a central romantic relationship and its ups and downs, though that component of the story is also really well-crafted.

It’s really how our two central protagonists interact with other characters and how that consequently affects their own interactions that is so brilliantly done here.

Moreno-Garcia is so creative in the way she reinvents and reimagines standard fiction tropes and turns them into something wholly unique and infinitely enjoyable.

It's 1988, and young Meche wants what many teenage girls want - the hot guy from school. She has two friends, Daniela and Sebastian, the best music of all time (fight me, I'm a Gen X-er and there's nothing better than 80s music), and her parents' decaying marriage at home.

And magic. Because this is a SIlvia Moreno-Garcia book, and of course there is magic, and here it is tied to music, which sounds (ha) absolutely glorious to me. But magic always has a price, and then we find out that it's two decades later and Meche has come home from Oslo, where she now lives, and we also find out she hasn't talked to her friends in those two decades.

I enjoyed going back in time to the late 80s, to the years of teenage angst and yearning, and capturing the what ifs of revisiting old friendships.