This is another beautifully written story by Jonny Garza Villa. They can always be counted on to bring up some hard topics, and in this book it is the untimely death of a loved in and the impact it has on a person.

Rafie has always excelled at mariachi, and his love for it is rooted in his love for his abuelo. When his grandfather passes and his parents uproot him from his sou, Rafie has to work to recapture his love of music while simultaneously competing for lead vocalist with the boy who stole his heart a few months earlier. The path to true love and mariachi competition wins does not run smooth, but what's life without a few hurdles.

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advanced copy.

4.5 Rounded Up.

I received an advanced copy of Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Vila from the publisher St. Martin's Press Wednesday Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Rafael Alvarez has had a whirlwind 24 hours, he said goodbye to his beloved abuelo, led his Mariachi group to victory at the Mariachi Extravaganza de Nacional, and made out with the cutest guy he’s ever me. Now eight months later, Rafie wants one more win to honor his abuelo, but this plan might go awry as his family have moved him to San Antonio, forcing him to start over in a new school and with a new group. Unfortunately, the school already has a lead singer and it happens to be the cute guy from eight months ago and he is not stepping aside. The boy he cannot thinking about is now standing between him and winning this final contest for his abuelo. Despite their rivalry, these two cannot stop thinking of each other and growing closer and Rafie has to figure out how to balance his lifelong expectations and perhaps finding the real him.

What I Loved: Again, let’s talk about YA that is done so well! I loved this one! Phenomenal grief study! From the start of this book we know that Rafie is losing one of the most important people in his life, his abuelo. The book starts with him saying goodbye to his grandpa and making a promise to him to continue to win the Mariachi nationals. While heartbroken at the loss, he pushes through towards the goal of making him proud. The way that our author makes it clear how people can work to avoid grief by putting all their energy towards a goal with blinders. This book also really nails the enemies to lovers (or rather lovers to rivals to lovers) trope in a way that it works. Rafie and Rey mesh so well but Rafie is constantly sabotaging because of his own trauma. I think normally the problem with enemies to lovers is that you can’t understand the hatred or overlook the damage done by the hate, but here, it works. The writing is phenomenal and the backdrop of the novel of Mariachi is fabulous. This is a deeply emotional book but it nails down. Also love the trans representation.

What I Didn’t Like: I felt some characters were unnecessary and hard to remember, but I did truly love this one, so it’s minor.

Who Should Read It: People who love excellent YA. People looking for queer romance stories. People who love grief studies.

Summary: Both Rafie and Rey are fighting to lead their Mariachi group, but they are falling for each other.

Real Rating: 4.25* of five

People are complicated, messy creatures, amalgamated from every speck of the spectrum of existence. No one who thinks babyqueers, that is your adolescent persons of all genders and preferences, should be kept in the dark about this, has any moral authority. They're arguing for repressions that they screech loudly about perceiving against them, but it being okay to do to others because they're Other.

The centrality of "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" is obviously lost on these idiots.

Now that's out of the way, <I>Canto Contigo</I> (that title rips my sentimental heart out) is the 180° opposite of the book-banner/oppressor mentality's comfort zone. There's an out trans person in a gay relationship! That ought to send some fur flying among the deeply homophobic Latine folks, the religious nuts, and the fascist identity police. Good job, Author Garza Villa. Keep swingin' for their kneecaps. That goes also for Rafie's overweening Man-itude. The sheer arrogance of all adolescents I have ever met too often gets left out of the mirror of YA fiction. There is not a male person alive in the world today who could not benefit from seeing how his Man-itude looks from the outside. Start early instilling awareness and perspective in your boys, gay or otherwise. It will help him, and all who love him, in the long run.

The grieving that Rafie does for his Abuelo is very well-handled, and makes Rafie's dickheadedness a lot more forgiveable. It's a big refreshing change to see boys being credited with the ability to process deep emotions, albeit not smoothly. Too often the resolution of the grieving is both too smooth and too fast. Rafie's grieving isn't complete by the end of the story but it's underway...much more honest, IMO. I'll alsi let Anglophone readers know that there's a goodly amount of Spanish used in the dialogue. As that's normal for Mexican-American boys, I didn't actually notice it much until I was asked to translate something. So, be aware if speaking Spanish is not on your list of accomplishments.

The vibrancy of these boys rushing into their lives, hurtling past the idiocy of phobes and their control fetishes, their smallness of spirit, and the rules they insist must be obeyed, was delightful. The music lessons are fascinating. The fact that the boys are rivals for a very important and prestigious position in their school's mariachi contest is a great way to keep the emotional loud pedal down without it feeling as though the author's manufacturing crises. It's baked in when the situation is set up this way. Going for the same role in a public-facing event is going to make competitors out of any two boys, then add to the mix that Rey's got the added pressure of representing for all of transmasc-dom.... They're believably entwined, they're completely besotted, and they each want to win.

Great way to tell a story. It's told well. I'm glad I got to know the entire bunch. Yes, even the jerks...need jerks to make a love story about us-v-them really work. This one's got that covered. I might think twice about handing the book to anyone fourteen or under without really carefully considering where that kid's social development was. Fifteen on up I'd be completely comfortable handing it over.

Get one for yourself, too, grandparent, and have a book club.

This book made me bawl! I loved this. It was so well written and I fully understood the motivation for Rafi. Their relationship was so cute and genuine.

5 Stars

This. Book. Is. Perfection.

I loyally cried at the end and audibly went “omg ahhhhhhhhh my heartttttttt”, so yeah, I’m a fan.

What I expected (and got) was an amazing queer romance full of Mexican culture and loads of mariachi. What I didn’t expect, but may have loved most, was the portrayal of how messy grief can be and how it makes us into people we might not want to be.

I don’t want to give too much away, but this book perfectly showcases how love isn’t always easy, loss of love may be even harder, but the only way to become the best version of ourselves is to let love change us for the better, even though it is hard.

I cannot recommend this book enough and I DESPERATELY hope we get an adaptation of it on screen one day. It would be ICONIC.

This. Is . What. I'm Talking. About. When. I. Say. We. Need. More. Latin. stories. I ate this up. Give me more more more more more more more. Also This author is a new autobuy.

I immediately wanted to find a mariachi band after reading/listening to Canto Contigo.

Ravi is living on a high, helping his high school win the Mariachi Extravaganza de Nacional. He also met a swoony guy. Flash forward eight months and Ravi is out of his high school and into a new one for his senior year. The school where Rey is the lead vocalist and who he ALMOST hooked up with. There's no way Ravi is letting Rey stay in his head. But forced to work together, he may just discover who he truly is meant to be.

The emotional outbursts Ravi experiences felt real, like I was right there with him, and the banter back and forth at times was interesting. I wanted more however; at times because I found some of the conflict petty and a tad bit unnecessary. However; many others may feel differently.

I will read anything Jonny Garza Villa writes. Their voice is so good and works so well for me. I really loved a lot about Canto Contigo and it hit me hard in a lot of ways. But, unlike Ander & Santi Were Here, I'm not sure I re-read it again any time soon.

What worked for me:
• First of all, the audio narration was great and really elevates the book - between hearing the Spanish as it should be heard and a couple of musical touches - I highly recommend reading this book with your ears.
• The grief. Oof. I lost my last (and closest) grandparent in the fall and it's been such a unique and powerful grief compared to any other losses I've experienced. So while Rafie's confusion and misguidedness could be really hard to read, there were some beautiful depictions of his grief that I needed to read.
• The instaconnection: When I tell you that the way Rafie and Rey initially met and connected felt so real, there is no way for me to explain that without simply saying that it deeply and personally resonated with me.
• The attraction and romance: I love a YA novel that can straddle the line of not depicting minors doing sex stuff in too much detail but can demonstrate the teenagers can be both horny and careful and thoughtful about physical intimacy. And Jonny Garza Villa writes couples who I believe can make it for the long haul despite their youth.
• The Selena Quintanilla-Perez Academy: God I loved this fierce, queer school.

What didn't work so well for me:
• I had to suspend my disbelief quite a bit to believe that Rey could (and should) be so gracious and patient with Rafie. Talk about a cinnamon roll.
• It is a pretty bold move to write such a self-centred, arrogant and frustrating character as your single POV main character. I don't even know if it's fair to say this didn't work for me because ultimately I was rooting for Rafie to get his shit together but wow, he was frustrating to spend time with and at times I simply did not get him and his experience, which made it harder for me to dredge up the sympathy needed to root for him. But I will say that the author got me back (or close enough) most of the time.
• The resolution felt a bit quick, neat and tidy - especially after all the messiness. But honestly I was so relieved to get it that I didn't dwell on that too much.

I still need to go back and read the author's debut and I might need to go back and re-read Ander & Santi too. I'll be writing whatever they put out for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

This book was phenomenal. The love and care that went into the portrayal of Rafie and Rey was palpable throughout, and I kept finding myself slowing down because I didn’t want it to end. I can’t wait to reread it again and again!

What is a love letter to Mariachi, a devoted amount of queerness, and a real vivid story about grief?

Canto Contigo for 200 Alex.

Wow, this was a really nice ride. It was very rich in mexican music and the stucture of Mariachi. I learned more about Mariachi in this book than I ever had explored in the past, so this was a nice taste. I really love the relationship between Rafi and Rey. They both gave themselves space to mess up and to grow. Though I will admit, I did want to bonk Rafi on the head many a time for being so headstrong. But a bonk of love of course, because grief can manifest in the weirdest and unhealthy ways, and it was such a relatable reaction to something so earth shattering to happen to your world.

I had a really good time.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Wednesday Books for an e-copy.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: April 9, 2024

This was a great mature YA rivals to lovers romance between two queer Mariachis as they prepare to finish out their senior years with one last chance to win the Mariachi Extravaganza de Nacional. This has a diverse cast of characters with great trans rep. I ended up listening to this one on audiobook and it made everyone (and the music) really come alive!

I will not be reviewing this title as I am participating in the St. Martin's press boycott. Will come back to this and post a full review when the publisher takes accountability and addresses readers concerns. More information at @readersforaccountability on Instagram.

It took me a long time to be able to finish this book, but it had nothing to do with Johnny’s writing!! I found myself not connecting emotionally to the characters initially, and I attribute a lot of that to their age/YA category. However once I got into it it was a beautiful story with very beautifully fleshed out characters, I loved the scenes between Rafie and his father and appreciated the reminiscing/grieving for his grandfather.

"Canto Contigo" by Jonny Garza Villa is a heartfelt and vibrant YA novel that celebrates music, identity, and the power of love. Villa's writing is infused with passion and authenticity, capturing the rich cultural tapestry of the mariachi world with vivid detail. But "Canto Contigo" is more than just a story about music; it's also a powerful exploration of identity and self-discovery. Rafie's journey towards self-acceptance and understanding is beautifully portrayed. Villa handles these themes with sensitivity and nuance, creating characters who feel authentic and relatable. With its vibrant characters, immersive setting, and poignant themes, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves music, romance, and stories of self-discovery.

this book helped heal some grief trauma i had been holding onto for nearly a decade. the way jonny writes is breathtaking, and the characters feel so real.
every jonny book ive read is an easy 5⭐️ read and im happy to say this one continues that streak.

Canto Contigo is a sweet, sad, and uplifting book centered around grief, growing up, and being true to yourself. I loved the Mexican culture and Mariachi music and the love songs were incredibly romantic.

Rafie can be unlikeable at times, hurting others for his own gain and not always able to see things from other's points of view. His struggle with losing his grandpa was compelling though and he did grow on me a bit. Rey is an adorable human and I just wanted him to be happy.

I thought this had nice pacing and the supporting cast was fantastic. Definitely a hit for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.

Thank you so much, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, NetGalley, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Rafael led his High School's Alma de la Fontera to their eleventh consecutive first place win in the Mariachi Extravaganza de Nacional. Then he met and made out with a cute boy. Eight months later, he's ready for another win, but destiny spoils everything and his family decides to move to San Antonio, forcing him to leave his group behind, while, also, dealing with the loss of his abuelo. In San Antonio The Selena Quintanilla-Perez Academy’s Mariachi Todos Colores has already a vocalist, Rey Chavez, the same boy he made out with eight months ago. Now with the rivalry for center stage, Rafeal has to deal with his feelings for Rey and the desire to be the greatest Mariachi his abuelo wanted him to be.

Canto Contigo is a wonderful and brilliant story about love, legacy, being one's true self, rivalry, music, art, written wonderfully and with so well rounded characters. A story about finding and choosing one's path, being true to himself, sprinkled with love, family and Mexican culture. I love Jonny Garza Villa, I fell in love with their writing style and characterization and you can't not fall in love with Rafael and Rey, their music and rivalry and building feelings and I'm in love with everything. I loved having had the chance to get to know the Mariachi culture a bit better and it was really funny, sweet and cute. Truly unforgettable.

I support the St. Martin's Press boycott. It is in response to a few major issues the publisher has yet to act on, like the ongoing apparent favoritism of white reviewers for ARCs over BIPOC reviewers and, more recently, their inaction towards a marketing employee's support of the escalation in violence against Palestine including posting Islamophobic comments online.

<a href="https://r4a.carrd.co/?fbclid=PAAabVQ1bAHLVenzYwgXY3m0hJ9UwJCCJqd0ZTfj3k1gKE9TPDYPR-UBzIpqM_aem_ASuQIh1_kP39TR3Xp6RHF58ZtO7CnBKjCiwC-n4NwX6mSK_YhKKmlzmb8zqBOBLkRfg#boycottoutline">more info on the St. Martin's Press boycott here</a>

<b>content warnings</b>
Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Sexism, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Death, Sexual content, Bullying, Medical content, Homophobia, and Racism

Thank you to #NetGalley, Jonny Garza Villa, and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchanged for an honest review.

It was a crazy 24 hours for Rafael. Not only did he lead his high school to their 11th consecutive first place mariachi title, but we also kissed a cute guy.
Eight months later, a senior, and ready to lead his group to another title, his family announces that they are moving to San Antonio. It doesn't help Rafael to leave his group behind when he learns his new high school mariachi already has their lead vocalist, Rey, the guy Rafael kissed. As they fight for the lead spot and become rivals, Rafael can't seem to get away from his feelings for Rey.

"Canto Contigo" is a feel good and loving book. There were slow parts to the book but overall, I loved it.

I think this one just wasn't for me, but I know a lot of teen readers will love this one!

"Canto Contigo" by Jonny Garza Villa offers a spirited dive into the world of high school mariachi, blending romance, rivalry, and cultural celebration. While the story occasionally feels weighed down by typical teenage drama, Villa's authentic portrayal of Mexican-American life and the vibrant setting of San Antonio add depth to the narrative.

The budding romance between Rafael and Rey is tenderly depicted, exploring themes of identity and acceptance. Despite some slow moments, the positive discussions on sexuality and the representation of trans characters add depth to the story. Overall, "Canto Contigo" is a solid read for those seeking a blossoming romance set against the backdrop of musical competition and cultural heritage.