Twisted Wishes is a band on the rise. Singer and band leader Ray is overwhelmed with trying to make sure the band is doing well and that he’s not letting down his friends/bandmates. He is doing what he can to shelter them from the demands of their gods-awful manager while still focusing on the music. Things go from bad to worse when their drummer leaves and Ray’s forced into putting a spin on it that makes him look bad. As if that’s not enough, into their auditions walks the man he crushed on and idolized in high school, the man who turned down an invitation to join the band back then, a slight (and a crush) that Ray has never forgotten, classical drummer Zavier Demos. There’s no denying that Zav is just what the band needs and what Ray wants even though he won’t show it. The question is whether it could ever work?

Zavier’s admiration of Ray goes back a long way. He doesn’t realize the history Ray has carried about them since high school, but he is thrilled to be the drummer for Twisted Wishes. Things ended badly with his last orchestra job and the change was necessary. He sees how Ray works, how he takes care of the band and how the music and words sing within him and he wants to be a part of that. He also sees that Ray has some insecurities and that he needs to be able to let go of that control and worry before it destroys him, and while Zav would love nothing more than to give that to Ray, he’s learned his lesson.

This is absolutely a slow build. I loved watching Ray and Zav getting over their initial friction to work together as bandmates and watch them grow as friends. The tension between them is palpable both to their friends and to the reader. As they move into a friends-with-benefits relationship, Zav is very clear about being aromantic and what it means. This communication between Zav and Ray is a hallmark of their relationship and obviously quite necessary for their D/s dynamic, but it also allowed for the story to proceed without unnecessary angst and really focus on the characters.

Aromantic doesn’t mean Zav is incapable of maintaining a relationship and having long-term happiness, it’s just a matter of finding someone who understands. Zav and Ray find that they work in almost every way; they are friends, lovers, bandmates, Dom and sub, and most of all they respect and care for one another. I would say they have one of the healthiest relationships I've read in a long time.

Both characters have incredible growth. Zav comes to a better understanding of himself. Finding the right partner in Ray opens up a future he never thought about. In submitting to Zav, Ray finds what he needs to let go of frustrations and clear his head in order to work towards real solutions for his fears about the band's future. The kink includes denial, spanking and bondage. Zav has a bit of a sadistic side and Ray finds such comfort in submitting, it was a thing of beauty to read.

As their bassist, Mish tells them “there are all kinds of love” and while Zav may not feel or understand things about "romantic love" it’s very clear that the intense feelings of respect, want and caring fuel both of them and allows them to have a relationship on their own terms. And shouldn't every relationship be built on mutual care and respect and the desire to see your partner happy, successful and fulfilled?

The secondary characters of bandmates Mish and Dom are also very well-written and integral to the story. They have been Ray's family and they all look out for each other. Mish is still a bit mysterious at the end, but she is a strong female character who takes care of the boys when it’s needed, but doesn’t take any crap. Dom is a bit more fleshed out and there is quite the awesome contradiction between his public persona, Domino, and the real Dominic. I’m thrilled that the next book, Counterpoint, will be his story. Anna Zabo also captured the music side of the story just as well as the relationship side. From creating the music and lyrics and performing, to the down and dirty of the business side of things. I got a good dose of the life of a rock and roll band.

I adored the ending and where Ray and Zav were. Their relationship works so well and they are both honest to who they are and what they need and neither individual is lost within what they have, rather they just grow so much stronger and happier together. I highly recommend this story and will be going to check out Anna Zabo's other books as I wait for the next one in this series.

*****
My first Anna Zabo book will NOT be my last. Really good!
*****

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
I found this to be an absolutely compelling read. I am so happy that it is the beginning of a new series, and that we will get more of Twisted Wishes, as a band and as a group of fabulous individuals. I read a lot of rock star romance novels, and there is often a lot of angst over addiction, whether drugs, groupies, or other band members. This was far more about the mental challenges of needing to keep everything working, and for Ray, being severely bullied and abused.

As well as the story of the band, which was fascinating, there were lots of little details which brought the whole book to life. I loved how Ray described how he sees music, and his need of his notebook. The detail of Zav's tattoos, the change which Dom underwent between stage and private life. We got so many details, and yet never was it too much.

This book focuses on Ray, singer and band leader, and his crush since high school, drummer Zavier, who auditions to join them on tour when their drummer goes to rehab. It is a beautiful story of two men who are in very different places in their lives and yet who, if given the chance, have a lot to offer each other. The elements of D/s are introduced in a measured and effective manner and have an important role to play in the way they and the band move forward. The passion, the care, and the trust that develops between them feels so natural and so important. It lays a wonderful foundation for a lasting and deep connection, which grows on every page.

I don't want to say more. because as I am reflecting on scenes and elements within the whole, I don't want to spoil the freshness for you. I will definitely be reading this book again and cannot wait for the next installment, as I am most certainly invested in the band members' futures.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
I love a good rock star romance and Ray and Zavier’s story is fabulous. I loved the colourful musicians in Twisted Wishes and I enjoyed the chemistry (and the touch of kink) between Ray and Zavier. And the music is wonderful. The story is full of scenes of writing, practicing, and performing music.

Twisted Wishes started as a high school collaboration, and Ray and Zavier’s adult relationship is coloured by their teenage interactions. I love the contrast and complement of Ray’s raw talent with Zavier’s classical training. The relationship between them is a kind of ‘friendship caught fire’ and I enjoyed the departure from traditional romance tropes. The band is special, and I hope to see more of the band members in a sequel (or series?!).

While I really enjoyed the book, there are a couple of things that irritated me about this story. For the first half of the book, Ray seems a little bit too hung up on his high school feelings for Zavier. I didn’t completely believe that such a successful musician would hold onto so much anger and insecurity. The band’s relationship with their manager seemed equally implausible from the start – without any spoilers, the whole storyline didn’t really work for me.

Anna Zabo is quickly becoming one of my auto-buy authors. I love both the quality of her writing and the inclusivity of her stories. For me, this story is good fun but a little more dramatic and a little less relatable than others I’ve enjoyed by Ms. Zabo.

Trigger warning: [verbal abuse, alcoholism, a character gets roofied and becomes seriously ill due to anaphylaxis]

While I expect rock star romances to be angsty, oh man, this took angst and piled on lots of sizzling chemistry with a BDSM twist. There’s also lots of diverse sexual rep: Ray is gay, and unlike some of the other m/m rock star books I’ve read, he’s never hidden from the press that he is. Zavier is pansexual, aromantic (more on that later), and kinky as heck. Of the other members of the band, Dom is also gay, and while I’m not sure Mish’s sexuality was ever explicitly stated, I’m pretty sure she’s bi or gay.

“From behind the drum kit, Zavier still held Ray’s stare. No words, but he knew they were a band. That lay in that smile, the triumph written into his shoulders and arms.
You bastard. The thought flitted through Ray’s mind, even as his soul melted from the fading echoes of music that he hadn’t heard the likes of since Kevin hit the bottle. You bastard. You knew that song was about you.
Finally, he spoke. ‘When can you start?’”

Years ago in high school, Zavier, already on the path to becoming a classically trained drummer at Julliard, turned down the opportunity to join Ray’s garage band, and Ray never quite forgave him – or forgot how hot he was. When Twisted Wishes’ drummer leaves the band in a mess of bad publicity, Zavier is the only one who auditions who has any talent, and the chemistry between Ray and Zavier is still electric. Twisted Wishes has been doing well – they’re touring as the opening act for a respected rock band and their records are selling – but Zavier’s incredible drumming skill has the potential to reinvent the band. So, we’ve got a little bit of second-chances, a little bit of enemies to lovers (Ray says he hates Zavier for refusing to join the band back in high school), basically, trope catnip for me! Despite their apparent success, Ray is constantly worried they’re going to fail, and seemingly sometimes a few steps away from spiraling into a destructive depression. Ray is the heart of the band – the lead singer, the songwriter, the person who takes everything on himself. Zavier sees what Dom and Mish – the other members of the band – don’t: that Ray is headed for his own breakdown if something doesn’t change soon. Luckily, Zavier has some ideas for helping Ray out…

The pacing in general is slow, but since it’s so character and relationship driven, it still worked for me. It takes some time move from the ridiculously smoldering sexual tension to a friends with benefits arrangement, but, my goodness, it was all scorching. They move from friendship to a dominant/submissive relationship with ease, and the continued reaffirmation of consent was lovely. The secondary characters – Dom and Mish – were also wonderfully written, interesting, and well-rounded, and I’m very much looking forward to reading both their books. They’re not just bandmates, they’re friends, and the trust and care that each of them displays for the others – and the way they welcome Zavier into that group – was really sweet.

“Twisted Wishes sometimes spun close to chaos during their songs, with layers upon layers of timing and chords, but Ray had written songs that worked, and his voice carved out sense from the chaos and brought the mess together into a beautiful whole.
Music like this was Zavier’s true passion. He didn’t understand the hearts of humans, but this he knew and felt. He modified Kevin’s lines on the fly, bringing them closer to what he knew as true when he listened to that lovely voice singing.”

For my part, I’m not sure I completely understood what being aromantic meant. It’s a term that I’ve heard before, but wasn’t familiar with. It was a sticking point in most of Zavier’s other relationships, and while he talks about not being into the whole flowers-and-dating stuff, it’s obvious he cares deeply about Ray, and that was enough for romance-loving me. From the little reading I’ve managed to do so far, I wonder if it’s the author’s skill that makes aromanticism so confusing for me, as throughout the book they make clear that Ray and Zavier’s relationship is no way lesser than a “traditional” romantic relationship just because Zavier doesn’t have those feelings for Ray. All this to say – I’m pretty sure I’m missing out on parts of the book because of my unfamiliarity, but I certainly wouldn’t say it’s the author’s fault.

Overall, this was a delightfully sexy rollercoaster full of feels. If you like rock star romances, you’ll love this one! I can’t wait for Dom’s book!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Ray stared at the tabloid website headline. Carl was the no good band manager the record label had sent. Ray was accused of being drunk and attacking fellow band member - the drummer Kevin who had actually been the one drunk and the rest of the band- twisted wishes- attested to it. Carl knew kevin had been drinking on tour ray had even went to carl about it and nothing had been done. The band needed the tour for the record label dangled in front of them. Ray had put the strange little band together -Dom his best friend from HS , Mish the red haired bass playing crooner. Abd Kevin the kid from YouTube . Ray had brought them all together and they had done the impossible and had a hit. But Kevin hadn’t survived the pressure - all the publicity, touring, maybe it was ray’s fault always going on about practices and looking and sounding their best. They hadn’t had a break in months. Xavier had got a scholarship for drums at Juilliard. Ray had asked him back in HS about joining the band and Xavier had said no in a uphanded way . But Xavier had been attracted to Rya but Ray was sixteen Xavier was eighteen - no way. Xavier followed Rays career as he never got over the nerve of that cocky sophomore approaching a Juilliard bound Senior for his garage band. Xavier hadn’t been on stage for three months, not since Xavier had walked away from his position as principal timpani on the Silverton Orchestra. Xavier had slept with the Maestro Dimitri Ferbian. But Dimitri wanted romance and love and Xavier was aromantic and Dimitri was incapable of hearing anything he didn’t want to hear. Xavier still hadn’t found another orchestra position when he decide to submit his CV and type up a statement of intent and sent it to the auditions for a drummer for Twisted Wishes. Xavier now knew not to have sex with those he worked with. Xavier had been everything ray had wanted to be- born with rock star looks, and a rock star name , and a musical prodigy also. Xavier joins the band. Ray and Xavier are very attracted to each other and have hot chemistry but Xavier makes it clear he’s not a relationship type of person so they start out as casual lovers . the manager and record labels gives Xavier and ray a rough time about their relationship but Ray and Xavier still continue being lovers.
I enjoyed this book considering I don’t read male/male or female/female books. But i accidentally chose this one I apparently seen Rock star and that's all it took oh well. But here is what I thought. I liked the plot but felt this dragged at times. I skipped over the sex parts and I am not really into whips when it comes to the BDSM part so I didn't miss everything. I had never heard of aromance so that was something new and interesting. I did like the actual build up for Ray and Xavier to build a friendship before the sensual part. I really liked how protective Xavier was of Ray. I loved Ray’s commitment to the band. I also liked how ray and the band interacted with each other including ray and Xavier. I liked Mish and Dom also. So as long as you knew what this entails I liked the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend.

Stopping at 25%. I'm interested to see how it plays out with the two heroes but I am so not a fan of the manipulative/bullyish manager as a plot element. I might pick it up another time, we'll see.

This is the first book in a new series from this author. I absolutely love it and can’t wait for the next book. So it’s a good start.

Reasons I love it:
* Very good storyline that makes the story seem very good put together and thought through before written.
* Characters that is coming alive through the authors way of writing. I can feel Ray’s despair and Zavier’s need to take care of him.
* The secondary characters intrigued me so I am curious about their stories. I bet Dom and Mish has interesting stories and I hope to read them one day.
* No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
* A good amount of dialogues, and I like both the internal dialogues and the one between the characters.
* The intimate scenes between Ray and Zavier is intensely hot and emotional.
* The BDMS part of this story is described in a tasteful way. Safety, consent, trust and caring is essential so when I read it even I feel safe(if you’re a reader of BDMS stories you might know what I mean)
* The mental journey for both Ray and Zavier is filled with feelings and how they reflect on their lives and comes to a agreement is thoughtfully put in to words.

I have to stop writing now before I end up with spoilers. I recommend reading it because I think this is going to be a series I will reread like I do with some other authors series like Megan Erickson and Rhys Ford.
5 stars 🌟

You know those books that make you want to squish and squee and clap in delight? This is that book for me. Anna Zabo’s Syncopation gives us rockstars, bdsm, and aromantic rep with bomb writing and characters so real you expect them to jump out of the page and shake your hand. I can’t wait for book two!

Ray Van Zeller is the leader of a rock band, Twisted Wishes, and he is in need of a new drummer. Stat! He doesn’t expect his high school crush—as well as the man who turned down the opportunity to be in his band before—to audition, let alone get in.

And for the sparks fly as much as their adrenaline does, on stage and off.

I have been on a jackpot run of novels and having this one come along and knock my socks off was just pure icing. Let’s start with Ray. He’s feeling the pressure that comes with running a band. Not only is he balancing his own wants, he has the media and his friends and his band manager in the back of his mind. And oh my god, how I wanted to throttle that manager! (Side note: Good luck keeping your cool).

It’s not easy and Ray meeting up with Zavier who sends Ray into a spin is just another tally mark pushing against him. Only Zavier, classically trained timpanist and Ray’s high school adversary, wants to help Ray. In way more ways than one! Zavier wants to offer domination, but what Zavier can’t offer holds him back.

This conflict was developed phenomenally. I could feel the tension crackling in the air. Then there’s the secondary cast which is dynamic, funny, and so damn supportive I want their stories asap.

This book gave a whole new meaning of support system, of what it means to crash and get back up again. It’s inspiring and heart wrenching, and I had to clutch at my chest at the depth of camaraderie and friendship. I also loved the aromantic rep in this tale and how everything just came together.

Syncopation is a brilliant composition that captures music, heart and soul and bares it in a way that I won’t soon forget.

5 stars!

I have never read a romance with an aromantic mc, and this book definitely did not disappoint me. The partnership between Zavier and Ray isn't devalued because of this. I'm not really a big fan of music romances in general, but I was very into this one. I liked the whole band, and I think I'll continue reading this series.

When I picked up Syncopation I hadn’t been in the best spot mentally and so reading the very first chapter I wasn’t sure I was going to be into it, not because of the book itself but simply where my mind was at the time. But by chapter two I had fallen in love and picking it up was the best decision I have made recently. This isn’t my first Anna Zabo book and I’ve loved their previous books but Syncopation is in a league of its own.

Ray is a self-taught musician who suffers from self-doubt but would shoulder the world for his friends and his band. Forced to take the blame for an altercation that loses him Twisted Wishes’ drummer, Ray doesn’t have long to find someone who fits with the band. In walks Zavier, Julliard-trained, aromantic and ready to swap symphonies for rock concerts.

This book is just such a beautiful read, like a warm, gentle hug that fills an eternity. The relationship between Ray and Zavier just blossoms and unfolds leaving you with happy tears in your eyes. They are just so wonderful together, they are each other’s homes. I could gush about these two for days.

Dom and Mish make up the other half of Twisted Wishes and are Ray’s best friends. They play a major part in Syncopation and they thankfully aren’t sidelined as can sometimes happen to friends when it comes to romance. They are funny and charming and, love and protect each other.

The best part about Syncopation is how low angst it is. There still is some *side eyes Carl* but it’s not overdone and I appreciate it so much. Ray and Zavier do have some ups and downs as they learn how they fit together but not once does it feel like drama for dramas sake.

Something else that was wonderful to see was active and ongoing consent between Ray and Zavier. Zavier likes to get a little kinky and Ray is a little new to it all but not once does it drop the ball on consent.

Anna Zabo has such a wonderful way with words and Syncopation will leave you with happy tears and a warm heart.

I’m not sure how to start this review but I want to start with stating this: I LOVED this book. Upon reading the summery, I was a little confused how the author would conceive a romance book where one of the characters were aromantic, but they were able to execute it perfectly.

Zavier and Ray have a history, they knew each other in high school but were two years apart. Now as adults, Zavier joins Ray’s famous band, Twisted Wishes that he fronts, to replace the former drummer. Right off the bat, there’s something between them, which puts you through a slow burn romance.

I personally got a sense of joy from the band aspect reading this because it reminded me of how I felt about bands when I was a teen. I love especially how Twisted Wishes was a four piece queer band. I know that if a band like that was around that stage of my life it would mean as much to me as it does to their fans.

As for the relationship between Zavier and Ray, a little into the tour they’re on they start a friends-with-benefits sort of relationship, Zavier making it clear he’s not a ‘relationship person’ but not explaining, yet, that he’s aromantic and would not fall in love with Ray.

Despite Zavier not falling in love with Ray, they do form a companionship that is like a romantic one. And the book never treats it as anything less. Ray does fall in love with Zavier, and he never shows to feel unfulfilled by the relationship they do have. Even more so, it’s shown how deeply they overall care for each other. The relationship was overall executed really well and I loved the relationship between them. This has definitely made its way into one of my favourite books.

This is a tough book to label. It's a friends-to-lovers story, but not really. It's an enemies-to-lovers story. No. Not really. It's a second chance romance. Nope. It's not that either. It's the story of a rock band. Yes, that's it! It's the story of a rock band's first steps toward stardom...

Ray and Zavier knew each other in highschool - hence the second chance - but they were neither friends nor they interracted much. Their only conversation was Zavier turning down Ray's invitation to join his band. The next time they meet Ray has formed his band, has released a few albums and is in need of a drummer while Zavier is in need of a job. It worked out great since each had what the other needed.

They start a tentative friendship after Ray decides to put the past behind him and slowly they settle into a friends with benefits arrangement. While the beginning of their relationship was slow and took the necessary time for their connection to grow and strengthen, from that point onward everything happened very fast. I would have liked a slower pace but it didn't affect my opinion of the book much.

I liked both MCs as well as the other two members of the band. I don't know if this is supposed to be the first book in a series but if it is I'm very interested to know more about Dom. Plus, it would be nice to see Ray and Zavier again!

What made this particular book stand out in the midst of all the other rock band books is the fact that one of our MCs identifies as aromantic. It was my first read with a character of this particular romantic identity and I found it very interesting and very informative. I don't know if the author handled it well or realistically - I'll leave that to the people who have more knowledge on the subject than me to judge it - but no matter what, it made me think about the compexities of a relationship between a romantic and an aromantic person. I believed in their HEA and a huge part in that played the fact that they talked about Zavier's aromanticism and Ray was open to it and understanding from the start. Zavier was honest from the start that there would be no romance between them, even if he held off on putting a name to the reason behind his declaration until things started to get more serious.

To tell you the truth, at some point I got a bit confused as to how their relationship was going to work with only one of them having romantic feelings for the other. But then I thought that every relationship is different anyway. Every connection has something unique that is only for the people involved to understand. The important thing is that they found a balance that worked for them and they were happy with it. The rest don't matter and neither does whether I understand the workings of their relationship or not.

And in the middle of all those positives I have got to mention Carl... What a frustrating character! No, more than that, what a frustrating situation! I can't believe that nobody interfered effectively before things got so much out of hand. What we had in this story is a case of pure psychological abuse. The fact that the people involved didn't have any kind of relationsip except a working one, doesn't make what Carl was doing any less abusive. He hit Ray with his words, making him doubt himself and his self-worth. He twisted the reality and made Ray believe his words. He had a strange kind of power over Ray that evolved through time and constant degradation. He had managed to make Ray stop believing in himself, not have any confidence. He had conditioned him so well that Ray was physically and mentally srinking every time he had to deal with Carl. I got angry that nothing was changing and that Carl managed to get in Ray's head and affect him so negativelly and so much.

Carl was the evil character that I could have done without. I would have prefered for him to be just mean and a troublemaker for the band than this over the top character who stopped at nothing and nobody.

Other than that I liked the story. It was interesting, had a bit of agony about what would happen with Carl, a bit of mystery about why he was doing all those things (though the answer wasn't a very satisfying one) and a lot of likeable characters.

3.5 stars

Two words: yes, please. Highly enjoyable and interesting take on aromantic and D/s relations in a rock-star setting. Plus, it's Anna Zabo and you really can't go wrong with one of their books.

What a ride! Never before had a read an aromatic book. Loved it! Can’t wait to see how Zav will change some of his way to bring Ray some much deserved romance. The bad boys rock band do it for me. I just love reading about it. This was a little different but I loved it anyway. Can’t wait for the next book!

This is a M/M romance that is not typical but ultimately works. The dynamics will not be for everyone and include a D/S relationship, but the characters of the band members are well-drawn, and I came to believe in Ray and Zavier's complicated happy ending. The conflict brought about by the story's "villain" moved the plot but was perhaps a bit unrealistic. I enjoyed the music setting and will look forward to the author giving us stories for the other two band members, Dom and Mish, especially since that means re-visiting Ray and Zavier again.

3* Not a bad tale in itself, though it was very predictable. But, where was the mention that this was a BDSM-themed book?

This is not strictly a romance in my book, pardon the pun, but it had an interesting take, due to one character's stance/attitude/orientation (sorry, but I'm not entirely sure how to correctly express what I mean without majorly spoilering the tale), and especially with his actions at the end. Unfortunately, I didn't buy those actions, or that the co-lead was happy with their relationship. It felt too...unexpressed for me, sorry.

It does follow the blurb, and the tale had a decent bunch of characters, without any 'angst for the sake of angst' between the leads who had a past together, and it flowed. But - and here I don't dare mention the individual's name - the baddie was so transparent and I had a pretty shrewd idea of what he'd end up doing, and I didn't quite get why none of the characters clocked that he was behind a certain event that happened.

And, why was there no mention that these guys were into BDSM as a 'cure', though not as out and out about it as some tales are? I wouldn't normally go for a book with BDSM in it, and therefore I ended up skipping quite a lot of the tale.

It seems that there will be more to come in this series but it's not clear whether that will focus on these leads, or on one/both of the other group members. Unfortunately, I won't be checking out more.

ARC courtesy of Carina Publishing and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

I had never heard of this author before and i was pleasantly surprised by this book. It kept me engaged the whole time and was a very enjoyable read. My only complaint is that the bad guy was so contrived it was hard to believe that the main character couldn't see through him from the beginning.

I kind of requested this book on NetGalley because I saw people talking about it and being excited about it a lot. I knew nothing about the author, but then again, the synopsis was extremely interesting.

I liked pretty much everything about the book which was a bit surprising because I've never been into any BDSM related stuff, not even in books. But I loved the characters, from Ray and Zavier to Don and Misha. They were all so amazingly written and I loved their connection and dedication to the band. Of course the story would lack a lot if there were not a bad guy and it is kind of obvious of who it is from the beginning but still...manages to surprise.

Despite the fact that Zavier refused to join Ray's then-just-a-garage band and that he only joins them years later, the relationship between them improves so much that Zavier becomes one on whom Ray leans the most. It helps that even at the audition or at least the first practice, Zavier stands up for the leader of the band.

And the BDSM thing? Well I liked the fact that it was really really really consensual. There is just absolutely no doubt about that and Zavier never really forces Ray to do anything Ray does not want.

What gives the book the extra edge, if you ask me, is the fact that Zavier is aromantic and this is expressed really quickly in the book. Zavier and Ray do develop a relationship and while Zavier is afraid that this will all turn bad as it had before, Ray surprises him first by knowing what it means and then by accepting it.

It is not a short book to read, to be honest, but it is worth it.

Oh gosh, Syncopation by Anna Zabo was just incredible. I don't think I can fault the book in any way.

But first, a definition.

Syncopation: the quality that music has when the weak beats in a bar are stressed instead of the strong ones.

When you read the book, you'll understand. All I'll say is, Ray and Zavier.

I read this novel in two days because I became invested within the first few pages. Queer rock romances are fast becoming my favourite sub-genre. I love the concerts, the bandmates' camaraderie, and I especially loved the romance.

Ray is a musical prodigy, but he's had to work for it his entire life. He started late, couldn't get into Juilliard so attended a community college where he majored in accounting, and after many years, landed a record deal. When the drummer in his band is forced to quit because of his alcoholism, Zavier Demos, Juilliard graduate and a classically trained drummer, joins the band amidst his own scandal. Zavier and Ray went to high school together, and Ray has had a crush on Zavier for years, but Ray despises (so he says) Zavier because the man refused to join his band in high school.

I loved the relationship between Ray and Zavier, and how, once they become friends, their friendship never fades even when they begin sleeping with one another. Zavier is aromantic, so romantic relationships have never interested him. He and Ray develop a version of a dominant and submissive relationship while on tour together, and their relationship is put to the test due to their manager and label.

What I loved most about this novel is the constant reaffirmations of consent, and the clear way Zavier lays out their relationship. That's something more romance novels need! As Zavier says, "consent is sexy."

I blew through Syncopation and you will too. The novel is slow, more focussing on Ray and Zavier, but I love slow books where you really get to know the characters. The secondary characters, Mish and Dom, were amazing too, and I really can't wait to see if the other books in the series will cover either of them (please be Dom's story next!).

All in all, I highly recommend Syncopation! Get a copy ASAP!

Music excites me and everything about the blurb of ‘Syncopation’ was catnip: a fledgling garage band on the verge of making it big, a new cocky (and talented) drummer taking the place of the old one, an unspoken, straining attraction between 2 people who’d had a rocky relationship years ago and the slow unravelling of a frontman who takes on too much on his own shoulders.

The title ‘Syncopation’ is a fitting one somehow—the beat that the band conjures, that Zavier and Ray dance to…it’s a story paced like a musical score, a build-up, with several sparks thrown in, then finally the climax that leaves one breathless. I loved the rush, the electrifying atmosphere that exploded to life on the page and the highs and the lows that Zabo writes so intricately about. In fact, Zabo’s descriptions of the exhilaration of performing and the adulation of the audience felt spot-on, as were her ways of talking about synaesthesia in the way it gave voice to music through shapes, colours and lines.

There are tons of triggers here, though, so going into this with eyes wide open is a necessity. What I personally hadn’t expected was the BDSM, the brutal, power-play kinks and the absence of love declarations in the traditional sense, though these were edgy enough to give the story a dirtier, flintier side as Zavier and Ray worked through their history while on tour. And as the tour amped up with each stop, so did the tension between them which I knew was going to explode in a fit so spectacular taking cover was probably necessary.

Still, I couldn’t exactly shake the feeling that for at least the first half, Zavier and Ray didn’t feel like equals (the former never looked like an open book, even by the end of it), coloured as they were by Zavier’s arrogant assumption about Ray’s punk status (10 years earlier!)—a subtle dynamic that seemed to have carried over to their interactions in the band. But I liked their slow, almost-grudging shift into friendship, the vulnerability that had Ray stripped bare, the inherent contradictions in both Zabo’s protagonists: the confidence, the conviction and the absolute commitment Ray had in the band and Zavier’s protectiveness towards him, then their role reversal in the bedroom.

My tastes are admittedly, a tad bit vanilla for all that went on however, as the BDSM really kicked in by the second half of the story. While I loved Zabo’s writing and the masterful pacing this story, the other bit of me cringed when the kinks took me for a ride—pun intended—longer and deeper than I was hoping for. With an ending that defied the usual ‘HEA/HFN’, I’m not entirely sure how to classify my own reaction to ‘Syncopation’ and it’s a rating that reflects that. Will there be more Zabo books in the future for me? Possibly so, since the secondary characters here have hooked me in and I’m already leaning towards wanting to read their stories.