Canto Contigo is the most comforting of Jonny Garza Villa’s books. There’s always hurt in their stories—this one is about grief and loss and the expectations we put on ourselves—but Canto Contigo is also incredibly warm and uplifting.
 
From the moment I started reading this novel, it reminded me of Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min (pick it up if you haven’t yet. It’s one of the best YA books ever). Those two books have so much in common. Teens with a shared past who meet each other again after one of them moves. (Friends to) rivals to lovers. Prickly and proud boys. BIPOC MC’s and so much love for their culture. A trans MC/LI. A beautiful and intimate cover. And both are love songs to music, in this case, Mariachi (Mexican music).
 
Rey is the cinnamon roll in this story. And as Jonny states, a Cancer sun who shows himself to be much more tenacious than anticipated. Rafie thinks he’s the best and wants to fulfill his dreams at any cost. As Jonny states, a Leo sun with a bit of a God complex. It might make Rafie unlikable, but his grief is already palpable in the first chapter and therefore I understood so well why he was so (overly) passionate and needed to be the best. I felt his want to make his Abuelo proud in every line.

Canto Contigo feels bright, even when the sun dimmed. Even when grief and darker thoughts took over. Even when Rafie made disputable decisions. The rivals-to-lovers trope is one of my favorite and laughs bubbled up from my belly when those guys hated each other but secretly had fallen for the other so hard already. The love those boys had for their music was simply beautiful, and I adored how they started opening up to each other more and more. When Rafie’s grief started to pour out, the story felt a bit sadder but still so heartwarming and it meant time for healing too. And the last chapters made me smile again so hard!!

Oh, and that title? I didn’t know what it meant before, but now I know it’s so beautiful!

Jonny Garza villa is an auto buy author for me. After reading their first book (Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun), seeing how much their writing style matured and changed and made me fall absolutely in love with Ander and Santi Were Here— it was an absolute joy to receive an arc of Canto Contigo.


Canto Contigo is a beautiful novel that deals with everything from grieving the loss of a family member, sexuality and gender identity, first love, and the epic highs and lows of high school mariachi
While Canto Contigo is technically YA, the writing style is so present and emotional that it feels surprisingly mature for the content, even when the narrator is complaining about saturday detentions. It’s one of the things that sets Jonny’s books apart from other YA novels for me. They make it so easy to fall in love with their characters and root for them throughout the entirety of the story.
Rafie is a headstrong, confident character who is convinced he needs to be the best, needs to be the lead, front and center, in order to be good enough. For himself and for his abuelo. Rey is the current lead singer in their mariachi group; he is sweet and loyal, and trying his best to do what’s best for himself and the group. The animosity between these two is frustrating and amusing. You almost want to shake them and yell “just kiss and make up already!”. Their individual growth and growth together as a couple and as co-lead singers is really wonderful to read. The emotion, both painful and tenderly romantic, holds your heart between the pages.
I absolutely love all of JGV’s books, and I am excited to see what they write next.
I can’t wait to get a physical copy of Canto Contigo when it comes out in the spring 🖤

I loved this story. It is written with such warmth and compassion. I went into it not knowing anything about it except what i could gather from the cover. I came out with an amazing playlist and all the feels.

The story takes place in the world of high school competitive mariachi bands. It is a rivals-to-lovers second chance romance of sorts.

It addresses issues in communities of color around mental health (“your brain doesn’t get colds”). But it also shows how rich Mexican culture is. The parents might not be perfect but there is love and understanding through the language of music and food.

The Spanish phrases sprinkled throughout the book might overwhelm some readers but I enjoyed that.

"Canto Contigo" by Jonny Garza Villa sounds like a heartfelt and engaging story that beautifully weaves together elements of culture, music, and romance. The premise of a Mariachi star navigating the challenges of a new school, a new romance, and the pursuit of his passion promises an emotionally resonant and captivating narrative.

The novel appears to offer a unique exploration of Mexican culture, highlighting the significance of family, tradition, and legacy. It seems to delve into the complexities of identity and self-discovery as the protagonist, Rafael Alvarez, grapples with leaving behind his group and dealing with the loss of his abuelo while pursuing his dreams.

The romantic aspect of the story, with Rey Chavez as both a rival and a love interest, adds depth and intrigue to the plot. The tension between competition and attraction is a classic trope that often leads to a compelling and emotionally charged narrative.

Overall, "Canto Contigo" appears to be a touching and authentic love letter to Mexican culture and music. It promises to explore themes of family, identity, and the pursuit of one's passions, making it a compelling read for those interested in diverse romances and stories that celebrate cultural heritage.

This was such a wonderful read that I finished it in under a day! A vibrant, heartwarming rivals-to-lovers tale that will leave you cheering for Rafie all the way. I really adored the narrative voice, the pacing kept me engaged the entire time, and I felt fully immersed in Mexican culture. I've always been a fan of stories that focus on family, and getting to see Rafie's journey as he dealt with his grief was incredibly touching. After all, what is grief, if not love persevering?

I'm a big fan of Jonny Garza Villa and have read Ander & Santi Were Here, so I'm very grateful for the opportunity to review his most recent work!