The Infinite Noise

3 stars — There's one thing you need to know before reading this book. This is based on an popular audio drama called The Bright Sessions. It is essentially a tie-in, with parts acting as novelisation of the podcast episodes.While this book can be read without listening to the podcast. I would not recommend doing so.

This book is sweet, it doesn't add much to the series, and feels like official fan-fiction. It's a soft gay love story with an empath. The podcast tells it better, but I still liked this book. I found it really enjoyable to see Caleb's view of the world. I adore the podcast, but that medium lacks what books can do, explore thoughts and feelings in a more literal sense through descriptions. And Caleb is perfect for this and I loved seeing his viewpoint and how he feels others emotions and the effect this has.

Also Lauren Shippen surprised me, she is a good writer! I mean of course, she is talented audio drama creator, well-known in that scene for a hits like The Bright Sessions or Bridgewater. But books is a different medium, and I was hesitant. I sometimes struggle with authors of different mediums. Oseman's Heartstopper comics are some of my favourites, but her books less so. Rowling's Harry Potter is a delight, but her screenplays are awful. Lauren Shippen's prime craft is audio, but the transition to novel here, was done surprisingly well. An easy to read writing style, not overdone, but not lacking either.

I think a lot of criticism for this book comes in the last 20% where a lot of characters are introduced and the plot becomes more complex. I think Lauren Shippen had a difficult task here. This book is sweet and lovely. It begins as a low-stakes gay romance with a dash of science fiction. And it works well. But it couldn't stay that way. Adam and Caleb's story, coincides simultaneously with the bigger events occurring in The Bright Sessions podcast. I think the book would have been stronger if the book stayed as this sweet soft low-stakes romantic story. But in doing so would retcon the events of the podcast. As a result, I think it's best to see this novel as a novelisation of Adam and Caleb sub-plot in the series, instead of a standalone YA novel.

Overall, a nice easy read. I love Caleb and Adam and lots of moments were heart-warming and tender. If I hadn't listened to the podcast before reading, I probably would have given this less stars, my bias to these characters are showing! And if you haven't listened to The Bright Sessions, go now! It's free! The the plot is essentially “what if the X-Men went to therapy?” And since listening to it, it got me obsessed with the audio drama medium. 3/5