withholding my review in support of the SMP boycott. Will update once SMP speaks up and responds to readers/reviewers concerns.

I'm sorry, but I really don't think this was for me.

I'm all for unlikable characters, but when they have overinflated egos that causes them to do/say cringe things for two-thirds of the book, I can't tolerate it well. Even though I understood why Rafie was like that, and that he was gonna get the big emotional moment that turns him good, it didn't really endear me to him that much. I couldn't get past me scrunching up my face whenever he was an asshole to Rey or anyone else in the band.

Other than that, I did like the writing. The banter, despite me not really liking Rafie for most of it, was witty. The only thing about it that kept nagging on me is the constant use of whole italicized sentences in dialogue. From my understanding, italicizing one or two words is putting specific emphasis. But whenever a whole sentence was that way, I just thought they were yelling or hissing. (There were some instances where it is made clear they're yelling, but my point still stands the rest of the time.) There is also lots of Spanish interwoven in the prose, which I should have expected but still made it confusing at times as a non-Spanish speaker. But I also get that this book's primary demographic isn't me; I'm sure YA Latine readers would love this.

All in all, this wasn't for me. The author does have their fanbase, though, and I'm sure this'll be a big hit with them.

simply so beautiful, i have no words. review to come very soon when i can form coherent thoughts but for now, this was lovely and i found myself shedding so many tears reading this.

Canto Contigo is another Jonny Garza Villa MASTERPIECE! After Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun and Ander and Santi Were Here, I am getting used to Jonny's books simply always being on my favourite reads of the year lists!
In Canto Contigo we follow Rafie, a high school Mariachi star who is forced to change schools in his senior year. Despite losing his beloved grandpa and being forced into a new environment, he is still determined to bring in his fourth win of Mariachi Extravaganza de Nacional, even if with a new team who's never made it out on top. But when he finds out that the lead was assigned to the boy he met at last Mariachu Extravaganza and his fleeting crush that felt much more than that, Rey, and he'll have to stay in the background, everything falls apart. Can Rafie somehow still take the lead role, make his grandpa proud and fall back in love with being a Mariachi? Can he work with Rey and make sure that the most colourful high school Mariachi group finally wins? Or will eventually everything fall apart?

I don't even know where to START with this review! Rafie is the type of character that might seem unlikeable at first because he is stubborn to a fault while also having a bit of a massive ego - but when you delve deep, you realize that a lot of that is posturing and insecurities, grief that makes you lash out in ways that is not always palatable to the general public. Rafie is a fantastic, truly remarkable singer and tbh him knowing his worth was refreshing af! But he is also so much more than his voice and confidence - he's a grieving teen, determined to make his grandpa proud whatever it takes, finding his place in the world. And don't even get me started on Rey aka our little trans sunshine love interest who is also not afraid to show his teeth (and here comes the most fantastic rivals to lovers story hehe)! I loved their dynamic - from blushing teens meeting for the first time, to heated rivals, cautious friends and beautiful and respecting partners in the end! <3

There's also a familial aspect to the story - of living in your legacy's shadow and fighting for your place in the world at the same time, of grief and hurt and sadness like no other. It was a painful story to read but also deeply relatable and I think Rafie's relationship with his grandpa was one of my favourite parts of the story. Was it hard to read? Definitely, but I think many people will find solace in this book.

Also just all the epic side characters, from Rafie's friends from back home to his new friends in San Antonio, to his family, I wouldn't mind staying in this world for hundred and hundreds of pages longer.

Of course, Canto Contigo is also a story of a gay Mexican boy and all the struggles that come with that (not from his family which is supportive and so, so loving, and I always love seeing these stories <3), of a trans Afro-Latinx love interest that feels like he belongs even less - there are homophobia and transphobia from ignorant and bigoted SCs, but there is also so much love and hope and queer joy woven with Mariachi glamour and triumph.

You need to put Canto Contigo on your TBR as soon as it comes if you love:
• epic rivals to lovers stories
• heartwarming (and also heart-shattering) queer YA stories
• so, so many queer characters! Gay MC, trans LI, trans and queer SCs
• beautiful and supportive family dynamics

Canto Contigo is a beautiful ode to Mexican culture, Mariachi, family and legacy, to finding yourself and fighting for your future, to falling in love with someone who sees you and challenges you! Basically, a must read and a book I'll definitely recommend again and again!

In exchange for this honest review, Jonny Garza Villa made me a mixtape of the music mentioned in their upcoming book. Not really, but please???? I just finished Canto Contigo on NetGalley and oh my! Let’s start at the beginning- no-let’s start at the cover! It is as just a gorgeous as the cover of Ander and Santi Were Here, both by Artist Max Reed.
Then we open it up and there is a touching note to the reader: I got a little teary at Jonny’s words - giving the grieving reader a content warning and then Permission to read only when ready. I feel seen.
Quick overview: Rafi is a mariachi phenom whose very recently deceased grandfather taught him everything he knows. After his father gets a better job in San Antonio, a very cocky and competitive Rafie must prove himself worthy to be the lead of the mariachi at his new performing arts school. After being knocked down a few pegs by his new maestra, he learns he will singing backup to his former, yet unforgettable, fling named Rey.
Rafi will do anything it takes to top his rival so he can four-peat his national title at the Marichi Extravaganza, but he also can’t get Rey out of head romantically.
There is also the sometimes paralyzing grief that drives and guides Rafi’s poor decisions in music and his love life. And while there is heartbreak, there is laugh out loud humor. His abuelo’s spirit possibly haunts a marichi calavera that sits on Rafie’s nightstand. It is both judgy and wise and reminds me of Juanita the garden gnome from On My Block. The rivals fights and flirtations also make for hilarity.

Garza is the champion of getting so deep in is their main character’s head while at the same time giving us richly delveloped secondary characters to fall in love with. There are instances of homophobia and transphobia, but Garza writes characters who are confident in their skin and well supported by their families. I love that for young LGBTQA+ readers. #Books save lives!
Canto Contigo is available for pre-order from your favorite indie bookseller and hits shelves April 9th.
Here’s the link to my video review:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT84vEFwn/
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I really enjoyed this book, it's always great to have more youth queer representation. I felt that the characters were well-rounded and had a level of depth that made this book easy to read and simple to enjoy.

thank you to netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for allowing me access to Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa. This was a book one of my most anticipated books of the year and it didn't disappoint

I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press; all opinions expressed are exclusively my own.

Canto Contigo is a beautiful, touching YA romance that explores the process of grieving, both in healthy and unhealthy ways, as well as issues of homophobia and transphobia specifically in the framework of Mexican-American culture. It doesn't stop at identifying problems though; instead, it transcends to show the reader the beauty of music and art when people are able to express themselves. I can't comment on the accuracy of the cultural depictions, but what I CAN say is that even someone not intimately familiar with the history and significance of mariachi can appreciate the story told here.

For sensitive readers, content warnings are helpfully listed inside the book, but I will also include them here: homophobia, transphobia, grief, and sexuality (making out is described graphically, sexual acts are alluded to but occur "offscreen").

Jonny Garza Villa did it again. Such a masterful contemporary romance about grief ; the pressure we put on ourselves and the price to be good.

I think this will be a good story for a lot of people, but I don't think it is for me. I didn't realize it is more of a teen story than a young adult story, so I don't think I will get as much out of it. I may try to find physical copy of this when it is released, as I would like to add it to my library.

After reading my first Jonny Garza Villa book earlier this year, they quickly became one of my favorite authors out there. They have a way to be unapologetic and heart-aching at the same time, and I really enjoy that in books.

For CANTO CONTIGO, I knew I'd have a blast reading, and I was right. The way grief was dealt was something special. It was real, brutal, ugly, and cathartic. Rafie dealing with that heavy, gray cloud and pushing through to let in his loved ones and step up to be himself was the true heart of this story, and it was incredible to read about.

As for plot, I think the story was phenomenal. I didn't have any issue with the pacing since everything seemed to flow seamlessly. The cast of characters were so interesting as well--from Rafie's family to his new friends in San Antonio. And of course, Rey was one of my favorite characters, though part of me will always feel like he deserved so much more. (Also, I still can't wrap my head around him having dated that one hateful trumpet guy???)

My only little issue is with Rafie's overall voice--it reminded me of Ander's voice in ANDER & SANTI WERE HERE. As I was reading this book, I had to remind myself that these were two different characters. I was able to separate them after about half of the story, but the beginning was jarring because it felt like reading Ander's pov once more.

Overall, a really enjoyable book!

4.25 stars!

The writing REALLY draws you in, unfortunately I was not in the right space mentally to read a story about a deceased grandparent. Will pick this back up again eventually though.

This book was a beautiful read. Incredibly emotional but with a payoff that make the heartache along the way worthwhile.

Over the last year I have had the privilege to read all of Garza Villa’s books. They have quickly become one of my favorite authors. While I am not a part of the Mexican community they so largely write about the other topics in their books are close to my heart. Cantó Contigo is no exception. Rafí is a struggling teen who is lost without his grandfather and trying to figure out who he is and attempting to not let his family/friends down. Who didn’t go through that in their formative years? This book truly made my heart hurt in the best of ways, at times. I cannot wait to see what Garza Villa writes next.

Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Another heartbreaking and heartwarming masterpiece from Jonny Garza Villa! Rafie has one the last three Extravaganza’s for mariachi but last year he lost someone very close to him and his parents decided to move away. Now starting a new school with a mariachi group that has never one first place, he’s frustrated and heartbroken. But surely his new maestra will know that Rafie is a star and put him in lead. To his dismay she does the opposite and puts him as backup to Rey, who just happens to be the beautiful boy Rafie almost hooked up with before last year’s Extravaganza. Now he’ll have to fight for that lead spot but will he be able to fight his heart as well? And can he win with a group that has never one a first place before? Can he make his family proud and be the best he’s determined to be? I loved Rafie’s journey! Often arrogant characters frustrate me but with Rafie his talent backs him up and the reasoning and logic he’s dealing with makes sense. I loved that Rey stood up for himself and the crushes to rivals to it’s complicated of the story! Filled with incredibly touching moments that had me crying and also hilarity! A wonderful look at grief and how that can mess with one’s way of looking at things! Tender, sweet, and wonderful! I can’t wait to read this again!

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press/ Wednesday books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my review.
I will not publicly be sharing my rating.
This story fully immersed me in the world of Mexican-American culture, specifically mariachi, a subject I knew every little about. The author does an incredible job showing the passion and cultural importance it has for the main characters as well as other Mexican customs. Spanish words and phrases were blended in with the English ones and at first made the reading alittle difficult but over time it became seamless to read and figure out most phrases. The instant translations through the kindle version were also super helpful. I also was able to put my out of practice 3 yrs of high school Spanish to use. It was a refreshing challenge.
I also appreciated the representation of LGBTQA+ community and how those conversations and experiences can be navigated at the high school level. It felt very modern and inclusive and really revealed some of the challenges members of that community face simply for being themselves.
Ralfie embodies the persona of the cocky teenage boy who thinks he’s the best in the room and it made him difficult to like for me. His character growth and ability to be vulnerable toward the end really did wonders for the story and his personal progression. His budding relationship with Rey was so precious and reminded me of nostalgia and giddy butterflies of young love.
Lastly, one thing that was palpable through the pages was the passion and love for mariachi and the importance it was within the Mexican culture. I loved looking up each mariachi song that was referenced on Spotify to get a feel for the moments they’re mentioned and I found myself more connected with the story.
I chose to request this ARC because I was looking for something completely different than my usual selections and a new perspective on an area I didn’t know much about and this served that for me by presenting a story I really enjoyed and also learned so much from.

4.25
i *absolutely* loved this! i’ve now read all three of jonny garza villa’s books and i can confidently say that they are a new favorite author of mine, and i need more of their books. they’re an author i’d recommend to literally everyone i know (and especially the audiobook versions!)

i loved the writing style as always, it’s one that works really well for me! i loved the characters, though i feel like they were more well-built in their previous books. i do have to say that rafie was annoying for a very good part of the book, and i wanted to yell at him constantly to not do all the dumb things he was doing but there was some *huge* character development, at least. and also, his bad and characteristics actually had some meaningful reason behind them rather than just being there for the character development at the end and they actually made sense! i loved rey, he deserves the world. i feel like the side characters could’ve been better-developed but they were still good. the book’s message was so meaningful to me, and i have to admit almost cried at some parts towards the end, but no spoilers. i loved learning about mariachi, and it inspired me to play the piano for the first time in probably a year. i don’t really know how to express my love for this book, but i might come back and add to this review when i do know!

thank you to the publisher st.martin’s press and netgalley for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a big fan of Jonny Garza Villa, though I'm not exactly his target audience. This book stays in his wheelhouse (queer Latinx youth falls in love), this time under the blanket of a high school mariachi contest. The familiar backdrop allows the author's strengths to shine- the guy really gets teenagers, their outsized emotions, narcissism and all. The plot might be low stakes to an adult audience, but not to his characters; Villa conveys this with ease.

My one critique would be that the plot involving the main character's grief over losing his grandfather lacks impact because the reader is brought in as the grandfather dies. An extra chapter or two would add more depth to this relationship, giving more depth to that plot and to the shadow the death has over the rest of the book.

Canto Contigo is a beautiful novel with blossoming, rivals to lovers high school romance with Rafie and Rey, a heartbreaking illustration of grief, and themes of community, identity, and healing. Many of characters I was able to visualize and love. Rafie's family, his younger brothers were absolutely precious. Rafie's grief was a journey and showed how grief can come in waves, it doesn't matter how long it's been. The mariachi calavera on Rafie's nightstand coming alive throughout the book as a voice of reason, a piece of his grandfather, was one of my favorite parts. The magical realism was giving!

Although culture, art, music & representation are very much present throughout the book, I wish that Rey had been developed a little more. We know who he is ( the absolute sweetest but not a pushover) and get a sense of his community, but there was something missing outside of him being a love interest & catalyst for Rafie's healing. Maybe as a Black reader, I wanted to see more of Rey's dual identity as an Afro-Latino, I'm not sure. Or showing a conversation with his parents, since they are in high school.

Overall, this book grabbed my attention from start to finish, and had me fully invested the characters, their development, and had me rooting for their success at every moment. I'm so grateful to read a work with unapologetic queer characters, and through this YA novel, young people can learn, and see themselves. JGV writes beautifully, pulls you into their story everytime!

Thanks to St Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for this digital ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday's books for an ARC of Canto Contigo.

I really enjoyed this one, and found it to be Jonny Garza Villa's best work!