All the Right Notes

An endearing Filipino queer love story with heart. A must-read for "Red, White & Royal Blue" fans.

Important CW: death of MC's beloved father, as well as flashbacks to death of MC's mother

3.5 stars. Piano player and aspiring composer Quito Cruz pines for Emmett Aoki throughout their senior year at Sunvalley High School, but settles for friendship because Emmett is a popular, straight jock. Then something happens during their freshman year of college when Emmett visits Quito at Oberlin, and the two MCs don't speak to each other for 20 years. Emmett becomes a world-famous action movie star. Quito toils in obscurity in New York City, accompanying aspiring singers, playing in piano bars, and occasionally subbing in the pit at Broadway productions.

When Quito's dad announces his plan to step down from his role as Sunvalley High choir director, he manipulates Quito into agreeing to play at the upcoming retirement celebration in California. Even worse, he urges Quito to bring Emmett with him. With the enthusiastic help of his drag queen BFF Ujima, Quito schemes to surprise Emmett who coincidentally is in NYC to host Saturday Night Live. But when the two men are face to face, Quito has to come to terms with what really happened 20 years ago, and whether their uncanny ability to create music together will ever transform into something deeper.

Debut author Dominic Lim's experience with music composition and performance is evident in the lively descriptions of the magic that happens when Quito's piano playing accompanies Emmett's singing. Lim's pride in his Korean heritage is also evident in his descriptions of Quito's relationship with his father and the joy they take in cooking together. However, the romance didn't quite work for me. While we know every single thought in Quito's mind, Emmett remains a cipher for most of the story. In fact, we only hear his version of past events at about 70%. There's the fact that Quito already has a boyfriend (who is conveniently taken out of the picture at just the right time). And it was hard for me to believe that both MCs carried a torch for each other for so long despite having absolutely zero contact the whole time.

The strongest relationship in the novel is between Quito and his dad, who has always wanted his son to be happy even if he has to meddle a little for that to happen. When Mr. Cruz, Sr. has to take a temporary break from work, Quito is petrified to step in as choir director because he can't possibly live up to his dad's stellar reputation. Compared to the father/son dynamics, the question of whether Quito will get with his high school crush seems unimportant.

Still, there was a lot to appreciate about this book. Ujima (nee Gerome) steals every scene he appears in, and makes a strong case for starring in his own book. Quito's unique way of processing music makes it easy to understand his passion for it, as well as his frustration when he hits a long-term composer's block. And Quito and Emmett are cute together for the little bit of page time that they are officially a couple, including a short but rewarding epilogue.

ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.