I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Review previously withheld in solidarity with the St. Martin’s Press reviewer boycott. All opinions are my own. 

Jonny Garza Villa delivers another poignant queer Latine YA novel with Canto Contigo. Once again, they deliver a story full of culture and heart, and this is perhaps the richest in that department. I don’t know a ton about mariachi, but I love the way this musical style was conveyed. From the tribute to Selena Quintanilla-Perez to the celebration of it. 

The protagonist, Rafie, is a sympathetic, if flawed, protagonist. The narrative deals with him reckoning with his grief for his grandfather beautifully. He doesn’t always behave perfectly; in fact, sometimes, he’s not the nicest person. But I like that he’s an example of a messy QTPOC, and he’s embraced by his new friends in spite of his flaws. 

Rey is a delightful love interest, a perfect cinnamon roll to complement the more prickly Rafie. While Rey is one of the people who is deeply impacted by Rafie’s poor decisions, he’s one of the people who is unconditionally there for Rafie when he needs it, and the nice moments between them generally outweigh the negative ones for me. 

This was a great read, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for a sweet, heartwarming YA romance with queer, trans, and Latine rep.

As a fellow water sign (Pisces not cancer like ya boy) Rey was the perfect little cinnamon roll for me to get into this book. It was very much a comfort/angst kind of read where sure bad things happened and there are hella sad moments dealing with loss and the burdens we place on ourselves but they were expertly interwoven with comforting moments that worked very well. Also rivals to lovers is peak.

I simply don't believe Jonny Garza Villa is capable of writing a sub-par book. Canto Contigo is a delightful, heartwarming novel, despite it's heavy theme of grief. Garza Villa just has a talent for making vivid life-like characters, and an intriguing story. Auto-buy forever.

A new fave 😭😭

I loved that it was about a mariachi group. I loved that the MC didn’t have a traumatic coming out story with his parents or grandfather (I know those stories are important too but so are these where our Mexican families are supportive). I loved and hated how cocky Rafa was. I loved how Rafa grew in his new school and how the people around him challenged him to
Be better.

I literally loved everything about this book.

I felt so many emotions when reading this one. From anger to sorrow to devastation to joy, this was a roller coaster. But in a really good way.

The story is told completely through Rafie’s point of view, and there were times I thought he was an egotistical jerk. The ego part is definitely there, but most of the jerk part stemmed from grief. I ultimately liked him, and I felt the depth of his grief and confusion. I understood his motivations throughout, but he still has some work to do to really deserve Rey in my opinion.

Rey, however, I adored through the entire book. I loved that he wasn’t afraid to stand up for himself, and that he never really gave up on Rafie, even when he deserved it. My heart broke for him at times with everything Rafie put him through.

Most of the remaining characters were fun (aside from the trumpet players) and the friend groups were the type I always wished for.

I enjoyed the background of Mariachi running throughout the story. I grew up in Southern California, so always saw Mariachi performers, but never knew the depth competitive Mariachi.

I loved the ending and felt it was perfect.

Disclaimer: I received a DRC through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am unable to provide reviews for any ARCs from St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and related imprints at this time.

As you are likely aware, there is an active boycott of your publishing house due to the failure of St. Martin’s Press to ensure the safety of their Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian influencers. Over 7,500 influencers to date have signed the petition demanding that St. Martin’s Press meet the incredibly reasonable demands below.

Address and denounce the Islamophobia/racism from their employee.
Offer tangible steps for how they're going to mitigate the harm this employee caused.
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Readers for Accountability recently brought to your attention the threatening behaviors displayed by friends of your employee towards multiple members of their team. This not only includes online harassment with threats of lawsuits and reporting but has extended to tracking the whereabouts of a prominent Black creator whom you chose to unfollow.
Your refusal to engage with the influencers who provide you with free labor is both disheartening and offensive. As such, I will no longer be requesting or reviewing ARCS from this publishing house until steps are taken to meet the demands Readers for Accountability have laid out for you.

I love that this book exists in this world. It very much reads like a love letter to Mexican culture, family, and mariachi music-- with some teenage angst. It's a coming of age story with two LBTQ main characters, who find themselves as almost lovers, to rivals, and lovers again all before the biggest mariachi competition, Mariachi Extravaganza.

I loved the representation in this book and that it includes a sprinkle of magical realism. It also tackles heavy themes of grief and loss, but it still feels like a celebration of queerness and community.

The only thing I wasn't a big fan of was Rafie. I know that he was grieving and struggling to adapt to his new setting, but he was insufferable, rude, and unlikeable. The only time I started to feel for him was when he started singing the opening cords to Amor Eterno, which had me in my feels, but then he went again and pulled some more intolerable antics. In the end, I did appreciate his growth, but it was hard to root for him for a good portion of this book.

There is always a bit of hurt in their stories, but I will say that Canto Contigo is Villa's most comforting story! This one is about grief and loss and the expectations we put on ourselves—but Canto Contigo is also incredibly warm and uplifting. I'm so weak for rivals to lovers--especially when they're pining for each other at the same time.

I loved the romance between the two leads, the diverse cast of characters, the trans rep and the insights into the world of Mariachi. Having lived in San Antonio, TX for a while, I also felt pride in my heart for it!

did not finish. just couldn't get into the story. will not be reviewing. more new adult than YA. too mature for my library collection.

This was such a heartfelt book. In this queer YA novel, Rafie and his family move to San Antonio. Rafie has always been a lead vocalist, but there is already one in place at the school he is going to go to.

Many thanks to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

jonny garza villas books never disappoint!! i would gladly read 100 more books written by them!

thank you netgalley for the e-arc!

Do better St. Martin's Press, then I will do better reviews ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. star rating here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goodness gracious, where to even begin with this one? First of all, we love a transmasc love interest. Secondly, the absolute firecracker that is Rafi.....I was not prepared for that. He is so pompous, arrogant, full of himself......but also so fucking loveable at the same time. One minute I was rolling my eyes at something he said and the next I was feeling overprotective of him. Just like both of Jonny Garza Villa's other novels, Canto Contigo has a lot of heart. It is an honest story that simply HAS to be semi-autobiographical because no one writes this well about grief without having experienced it firsthand. As someone who has been under a dark cloud of grief for awhile now, this book honestly healed something inside of me. It acknowledges the ache of grieving someone you loved, without discounting it. I loved this book so much, it is impossibly good and you should definitely read it.

Reading JGV from their first novel to their recent one, you can see how they have grown as a storyteller and a writer. From the beginning, you see that they have a way of expressing the characters emotions and really give them depth. JGV only elevates the richness of Canto Contigo from the lives of these characters with witty banter and “oh, I’m just like this” relatability. Truly an auto-read author and one I really hope gets the FLOWERS they deserve. Such a good read for the heart and for your soul.

Loved the first half. But the second half wasn’t as enjoyable bc I despise a third act implosion and it was just too cheesy. An engaging story though and a world (mariachi) that I’m unfamiliar with. I love how, unlike many of their contemporaries, JGV tackles real issues and doesn’t pretend that homophobia and transphobia don’t exist. Great writing, just too heavy on the cheese for me.

I really enjoyed the parts of this I did read, I loved the representation and the setting and the characters, but I just feel too old for the YA books these days. It's nothing against this book and I will try to finish it later, but I also will not be reviewing it later due to the SMP movement.

Jonny Garza Villa continues to write STUNNING YA stories, and CANTO CONTIGO is no exception. It’s also, perhaps, my favorite of theirs so far.

CANTO CONTIGO is the story of Mariachi star Rafael—Rafie—Alvarez, who gets transferred from his award-winning group to a new school and new Mariachi group in San Antonio, where he’s stuck singing backup for lead vocalist, Rey Chavez—the boy Rafie kissed and connected with months ago, and hasn’t forgotten about. Rafie resists his demotion and does everything he can to earn back the lead vocalist spot — including alienating the captivating Rey and his new Mariachi group.

Not only is Rafie struggling with a new school, new enemies, and a new group, he’s dealing with the soul-crushing loss of his abeulo, the one who inspired his love of music since he was a child. Navigating his heavy grief and the animosity with his new (cute) teammate, he must find a way to rediscover his love for Mariachi, embrace his real self, and learn to work with his group in time for their upcoming competition.

This book is a beautifully rich love letter to Mexican culture, family and legacy, the people who shape us, and allowing ourselves to forge our own path. Jonny’s writing is not only hilarious, it’s heartfelt. It’s meaningful and magical. I hope everyone—EVERYONE—takes the time to read their books and enjoy some incredibly stunning stories.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. CANTO CONTIGO is out now!

My favorite part of this book is the name of the high school. It's so funny and I love the classic trope of rivals to lovers!

4.5*

Canto Contigo was a highly engaging read, with all the messiness you'd expect in a book about a teenager. Especially when that teen is Rafie.
Oh Rafie, dealing with so, so much. Uprooted his senior year of high school to a new school, still reeling from the death of his abuelo, and finding out his almost hook-up from last year is the lead vocalist of the school's Mariachi group- a part he fully expected to win himself.

This book takes us on quite a journey, as Rafie learns to navigate everything life has thrown at him. It's messy and complicated, sweet and heartfelt, and quite and adventure.

At the end of the blurb for this book is this statement "Canto Contigo is a love letter to Mexican culture, family and legacy, the people who shape us, and allowing ourselves to forge our own path." And I truly believe it is.

I am a huge fan of Jonny Garza Villa but I will not be reviewing this title as I am participating in the St. Martin's Press boycott. More information can be found at @readersforaccountability on Instagram.