Review Detail

Opening Line: You think it’s so easy to change yourself. You think it’s so easy, but it’s not.

This Song Will Save Your Life is. . . what are the words I can use to describe it, without sounding overly sentimental? This book is one of those books that I label as special. Those books that I add to the list of books that influence me as a person, the type of book that I hold to dear to my heart and I know will be revisited time and time again, not only in re-reads but also just reflections on how truly magnificent this book really is.

Elise is very similar to the person I was in high school. I think I had a few more friends in the latter high school years(I have good memories of those final two years), but the time before that? Desperate, lonely, and afraid are words I would use to describe myself and Elise. Perhaps I wasn’t quite to the point that Elise was, but I think without certain things in my life I could have definitely reached that point. And that’s why I loved Elise so much– she judged other people quickly sometimes, being so accustomed to being judge early herself, she made mistakes and was so hard on herself it was hard to read, but it all resonated with me so much.

Which is why I was such a fan of the journey that Elise took in this book. I was worried that it would be one of those “rise-to-fame” stories, very sentimental without any real heart or depth, but This Song Will Save Your Life was nothing of the sort. Elise cared passionately about music and her DJ’ing, and the way that passion sort of shone a light into Elise’s light was handled in a very real, sort-of-inspirational, but not cheesy, way.

This Song Will Save Your Life is a book that reminded me why I love the things I do, why I am passionate about certain things. It might not be music for me, like it is for Elise(though I’m a huge fan and am pretty passionate about music over all), but this book reminded me of how the things we love really can save and inspire us. It made me think back to my post about what books taught me, and I think that books are for me what music is to Elise. I just really loved the way This Song Will Save Your Life touched upon the idea that our passions can be so helpful to us, life-saving even.

I LOVED the relationships explored in This Song Will Save Your Life. All of them. Elise’s parents don’t really understand what she’s going through(partially because she won’t let them), but they really do care and are supportive. The way Elise’s parents interacted with her seemed realistic to me, which isn’t always what I can say in YA. The way friendships were handled was the main relationship highlight of this book for me, though. Because here’s the thing: Elise’s music might have saved her, but her friends she found through the music are what keeps that going. The friendships are messy at times, and they’re not perfect, but they were so well-done.

This Song Will Save Your Life could have been so much less than what it was, but it was clear to me from the start that this was a special book. This book has one of my all-time favorite last paragraphs, and when I closed this book, I felt supreme satisfaction in the story, yes, but I also felt connected to Elise and her story, and also the story of everyone who’s passion has ever saved their life, even once.

Final Impression: I honestly hadn’t even considered reading This Song Will Save Your Life until I heard Leila Sales speak at Austin Teen Book Festival, but I’m so glad I did, because it was a wonderful book. I related to Elise’s story so much and I think many others will too. It was a beautiful story and one I can’t wait to revisit. Flawless. 5/5 stars.