Heartbreak Symphony

HEARTBREAK SYMPHONY is a compelling and powerful YA contemporary romance about community, grief, and the power of music. Aaron is doing his best to get through life, still missing his mother since her death. Ever since the funeral, he has been followed by the imagined ghost of his favorite musician, La Maquina, who speaks to all his fears and worries. He has mixed feelings about applying for a unique scholarship to the private musical school with a scholarship for someone from one of the poorer public schools, but he tells himself that he will audition.

Mia has a gift with the trumpet, which she learned in part to escape the trouble at home. She found a purpose in playing it, but her anxiety prevents her from sharing it with anyone else. On her way to the auditions, she runs into Aaron. They have a connection and so many similarities - from having lost a parent to their reservations to their love of music.

While their paths continue to cross, ICE is doing more frequent raids amidst the difficulty with visa renewals, and they are seeing their neighbors losing loved ones and feeling powerless to stop it.

What I loved: This is a really compelling and heartfelt read. Both Mia and Aaron are struggling with their grief and also struggles with anxiety/depression. I found it particularly powerful how Aaron seeks help and sees a therapist, despite resultant conflicts with his father. Mia and her brothers are also struggling with anxiety and trauma from their childhoods, and they are bound together through these strong bonds and coping in their own ways. Their relationship was really fantastic, and some of their conversations/scenes were heartfelt and lovely.

The themes around music were also really powerful, and I loved the connection and the ways they came together through its power. Art holds its own magic, and that is conveyed not only through music, but also through poetry and painting by secondary characters. Other themes around immigration, community, protests, and prejudice faced made this a really potent and thought-provoking read. In particular, the book discusses ICE and the fear and trouble this can bring to communities, as well as the visa backlog that causes a lot of issues in even documented immigration. Law enforcement was another theme with how they react and treat different people as well as broader prejudices.

The way that the community came together was also really powerful with protests, showing the importance of coming together and of standing up for your beliefs, even in the face of impossibility. The romance was also really fantastic, and it was so easy to cheer for and invest in both Mia and Aaron. They were beautiful characters, and their relationship was also really lovely.

Final verdict: HEARTBREAK SYMPHONY is a thought-provoking and beautiful YA contemporary read. Highly recommend picking up this powerful book.