This Song Will Save Your Life

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.

Music and not fitting in, two things I can totally relate to. I don’t always enjoy Contemporary YA, but this book was really good.
I had a feeling this was going to be a sad, sad book, with themes like bullying, suicide and the likes.
I wasn’t hooked by the first chapter at all. I resented Elise for thinking that she had to give up her entire personality for the sake of popularity, only to move towards suicide if she didn’t get accepted socially. Weird message. But after a couple of more chapters, Elise grew onto me and I began to see her growth. The pace and development of her character is stellar.
Leila Sales has crafted such amazing characters, they are all crazy in their own way but so very real. Vicky was my absolute favorite, and Elise’s family is absolutely lovely. There is a lot of pain and courage in this story, but it is one that keeps you reading on because you want to know what happens to Elise.
Even if you can’t relate to Elise’s story, like me, that is no reason to not read this book. There are messages in this book that will do you a world of good, whether you relate or not, because being accepted means a lot to nearly everyone. There is an emphasis on self-discovery in this book, and the value of finding true friends and people who will accept you no matter what and let you be the way you are, let you do the things that make you happy.
The Final Words:
I am glad to have gotten the chance to read this book. It’s a remarkable story and will make an impact on your life, if you give it a try.

This Song Will Save Your Life struck too close to home.

I don't think I've ever read a book about the character which so openly discussed not being accepted. Sure, there are those sad books about bullying but there was just something special about Elise's character. Most of the time while I was growing up (and even occasionally, now) I didn't have a real true friend after my family moved into another country. When we moved everything changed. But when I think of it, people were always looking at me differently, even when I was a girl who refused to wear long hair like the rest of the normal girls around me, who would dress as a geisha on Halloween while other girls were princesses. But when we came back to the place I never even remembered because I was just a toddler when we had to move (there was a war raging back then). I was called all sort of bad things and none of my new 'friends' stuck up for me. It was natural to call me names, trip me so I would fall and rip my knees and arms and even spit on me. But the problem with those bullies is I never let them see me defeated. Sure I questioned if something was wrong with me. Why didn't they like me? Should I grow my hair out? Will I then be pretty just like the rest of those skinny adolescent girls? But my mom would Now I can just thank them for making me the way I am because if it weren't for them I wouldn't be my awesome self today. I wouldn't have impeachable taste in music and my hair wouldn't look like a rockstar's. Hell, when I come to think about it, if they haven't gone after me, they would find another victim and I might've been one of the bullies.

I was checking out reviews for this book and one of the bloggers said she didn't like the heroine because she was whining how hard her life is. She obviously wasn't bullied and doesn't understand how it feels to be an outcast. I love strong characters and Elise was one of them even though her power wasn't in open confrontation with the bullies but in self discovery and believing in herself.

This Song Will Save Your Life is my second Leila Sales novel. I read Past Perfect two years and wasn't the biggest fan. Leila redeemed herself with her latest work and I'm so glad I had the chance to get to know Elise, Vicky, Alex, Sally and Chava.