It has become tough for me to rate and review Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books because I end up comparing them to each other rather than to the other books I'm reading. And because she is such a great writer and storyteller, and I LOVE some of her books so much, I think to myself at the end, "That wasn't as good as Mexican Gothic... This was no Gods of Jade and Shadow... The Beautiful Ones does this so much better..." and almost convince myself the book was worse than it was.

But when I take a step back and pull myself out of that, Signal to Noise was such a good time!

This story is steeped with nostalgia, which is one of my favorite things. As a lover of both music and magic, I am definitely the ideal audience for this story. I also love a book about friendship, even (perhaps especially?) when the friendships get messy. And boy, does stuff get messy here! When we meet Meche as an adult, she is closed off and guarded, and we put the pieces together as we switch back and forth between the past and the present.

Because so much of the narrative takes place in the past, I can see some readers annoyed at how petty and rash the characters seem. And this has a certain level of telenovela-ness that is present in a lot of her books, which I already know some people don't like but I love.

And okay, okay, I didn't love this as much as some of her other books, but I know this is a fave for some. It's certainly worth the read!

Signal to Noise is a beautifully crafted novel with a great mix of magic, music, and personal discovery. It’s not your typical fantasy or speculative novel, and that’s what makes it stand out. Definitely recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven stories with a touch of the fantastical.

No one builds an immersive world quite like Silvia Moreno-Garcia. From the first page, the air feels thick with memory, music drifting through open windows, the hum of old electronics, the weight of unspoken things between people who love each other imperfectly. The writing is textured and precise, not just capturing a time and place but the emotional weather of adolescence—awkward, urgent, quietly magical. The prose hums with the same electricity as the mixtapes at the heart of the story, carefully curated, full of feeling, and just a little haunted. It’s a novel that chooses mood and texture over plot, and that choice makes it feel quietly powerful.

Signal to Noise is a stunning blend of magic, music, and memory that will captivate you from the first page. Silvia Moreno-Garcia expertly combines a coming-of-age story with a rich, atmospheric plot that pulses with the energy of 1980s Mexico City. The novel’s enchanting portrayal of music as a form of magic, paired with its complex, flawed characters, makes for a deeply immersive and emotional read. Moreno-Garcia weaves themes of love, loss, and self-discovery in a way that feels both timeless and fresh.

Lush, lyrical, and completely mesmerizing—Signal to Noise is a beautifully crafted story that resonates long after you turn the final page.

I didn’t read this when it first came out but really enjoyed discovering it now.
It wasn’t my favorite of hers, but it’s still a great magical realism story that kept me engaged throughout.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia could write a takeaway menu and I would be first in line to read it! Signal to Noise has one of the most unique magic systems I have ever read and I loved every second of it! On top of the spellbinding storyline the audiobook performance was absolutely fantastic! 10/10 recommend!

Thank you so much Spotify Audiobooks for sending a copy my way!

I love SMG!! I think she is amazing and so underrated... That being said this was not may favorite from her-I like her dark creepy stuff. it was a good book just not favorite

2.5 stars rounded up. I’ve really enjoyed other books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia so I was excited for this one, but it wasn’t really for me. At first, I had a hard time following the switches in POV and timeline, although that may have partly been because of listening to the audiobook and there only being one narrator. The narrator did do a good job of voicing the characters though.

The characters and world were fleshed out, but I personally was more interested in the background storyline and characters than the main pairing. I think my biggest struggle was that I personally had a hard time feeling invested in the main pairing because of the combination of drawn out misunderstandings and characters being oblivious to their own feelings, but I know those are romance tropes that a lot of people do enjoy.

The magic aspects were interesting though and things did escalate in a surprising way in the last quarter of the book. Honestly, I think I would have rated this a lot higher if it had been framed in a different way instead of trying to make the main character come off as likeable, while she consistently behaved in ways that made it not achieve this at all for me.

Narrator for audiobook was good. It wasn't a page turner, but I enjoyed the story. A solid 3.5-4 stars.

Mexico City, 1988. Long before iTunes or MP3s, you said "I love you" with a mixtape. Meche, awkward and fifteen, discovers how to cast spells using music, and with her friends Sebastian and Daniela will piece together their broken families, and even find love.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia showed her versatility again with this book. And this was again another unique story with her signature all over it!

This was an unexpected mash-up of coming-of-age YA story and witchcraft, with music as the medium. I don’t think I’ve ever found any other book with a plot like this. The end result was this amazing tale of friendship, which was heartbreaking, heartwarming and creepy at the same time.

The audiobook narration was amazingly done, with perfect delivery for the story. The Jim Tierney cover illustration was of course a work of art, and actually what was attracted me to the book in the first place.

*Signal to Noise* by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a captivating blend of magical realism and coming-of-age storytelling, set against the backdrop of 198s Mexico City. The novel follows the life of Meche, a young woman who discovers that music holds a powerful magic that can influence reality and shape her destiny.

Moreno-Garcia's writing is lyrical and evocative, immersing readers in the vibrant atmosphere of the city and the rich cultural references of the era. The author's ability to intertwine music with the narrative adds a unique layer to the story, allowing readers to experience the emotional resonance of each melody and its impact on the characters' lives.

The characters are intricately developed, each grappling with their own desires, regrets, and aspirations. Meche's journey of self-discovery is both relatable and poignant, as she navigates the complexities of friendship, love, and the burden of expectations. The dual timelines—Meche's teenage years and her present-day life—create a compelling contrast that highlights her growth and the consequences of past choices.

The themes of loss, redemption, and the power of connection are woven throughout the narrative, making it a deeply reflective read. Moreno-Garcia explores the idea of how music can serve as a form of communication and healing, resonating with anyone who has experienced the profound impact of art in their own lives.

Overall, *Signal to Noise* is a beautifully crafted novel that captures the essence of youth and the bittersweet nature of memory. It’s perfect for readers who appreciate richly layered stories filled with emotion, magic, and the universal language of music. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has created a mesmerizing tale that lingers long after the final note fades, making it a must-read for fans of contemporary literature with a touch of the fantastical.

I had no idea this was Silvia’s first novel and this is a new edition with a fantastic new cover.
There’s so much things I liked about this story; the music and the 80’s music references, the magical elements, diverse characters, the setting, and of course the writing style. A unique and fantastic story.

Thank you NetGalley and Spotify Books for this complimentary audiobook.

“Love dies in different ways. For most, it is a slow, agonizing death. Meche, however, cut her love the same way the executioner might chop a head: with a single, accurate swing.”

Audiobook - Narrated by Kyla Garcia
Kyla Garcia has done a wonderful job narrating this beautiful hypnotic novel by Silvia Moreno Garcia.

I have read almost all books by Silvia Moreno Garcia. I love her writing style. Although I haven't loved all her books, yet they have left a distinct mark on my mind for being well written and having an unique storyline. Another thing that I like about Silvia's writing is she subtly introduces magic in between her world and it never takes over the theme of the book. It is kept at bare minimum level which makes her books easily palatable too because they feel very real.

Signal to noise is Silvia's debut novel republished and given an audiobook format by Spotify audiobooks, I came to know after I finished it. While reading, I had this feeling that this did not feel like a polished work or her recent work and so on point my intuition was because it turned out to be her debut novel.

This storyline jumps between two timelines, one in 1988 Mexico City where Meche was a headstrong teenager and living with her parents her grandma and her two best friends, Sebastian and Daniella. Another is set in 2009 where Meche has come back to Mexico City for her father's funeral.

I loved the bond between the three friends even though it wasn't best of friendships depicted in books it still made me feel for each one of them. To be honest, Meche is a terrible person and even more terrible friend to her friends, yet a part of me cared for her and wanted good things for her in the end.

The coming of age story had me hooked from the very start and the subtle inclusion of magic in between gave it a nostalgic and lyrical tone.

Overall I quite enjoyed it.

Audiobook rating : 5 stars
Book rating : 4 stars
Overall rating : 4.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley and Spotify audiobooks for the wonderful Audiobook ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I've read and liked several books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia before so I'm glad I finally went back and read her debut novel. This story follows a teenage girl as she struggles to handle family drama, friendships, and relationships all while learning she can perform magic. This was surprisingly emotional and tugged at my heartstrings. The romance felt so real! I'm not normally a fan of friends to lovers but the natural chemistry and slow burn here were beautiful. The audiobook narration was amazing. Kyla Garcia did a wonderful job at bringing the emotions and characters to life.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another incredible novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia! I am her self-proclaimed Biggest Fan, and though I don't love all of her novels equally, I'm pleased to say this is another of her great ones. It reads with all the familiarity of her other stories--deeply flawed and nuanced characters dancing around each other not knowing whether they want to hurt each other, hurt themselves, or if they're in love. I find them relatable and unique amongst all the other fiction I read.

Signal to Noise explores this idea that music can be magic. I found this premise and action much, much more believable and polished than Silver Nitrate (movies can be magic).

The story is complex, dark, and emotional--all wrapped in a great setting. The audio narration by Kyla Garcia is great. Her voice is beautiful and clear.

Audio from NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks. All opinions are my own.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I love the atmosphere and setting of this book. I love how vivid Mexico back then feels. I love the relationships within the characters, very rich.

I did not realize until after finishing this novel that it was her debut since it was a reissue, and this reframes things a lot for me. I'm a big fan of Mexican Gothic and have read several others from Moreno-Garcia and greatly enjoyed, so I was confused why this one fell so much flatter for me. The plot jumped around a bit too much and could have used more focus in what kind of story it was telling, and it makes a lot more sense now knowing it was an earlier novel from this author. I love the premise and I think it started off really strong with the friendships between the 3 main characters. Honestly, Meche was my least favorite character, and grew more unlikeable as the book went on imo. As much as I can enjoy an unlikeable stubborn female MC, it just got to the point where it didn't seem to be serving a purpose anymore and I wanted to yell, "Get over yourself! at her. I think the music as witchcraft theme could be revisited and turned into a really fun more focused short story.

Worth a read, but wish it had been a but shorter and more focused.

Thank you to Net Galley for the audio ARC in exchange for honest review.

Signal to noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Magical realism at its finest!

This is Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s debut book that launched her phenomenal writing career and honestly, had I not known it was her debut, I would never have guessed from the caliber of the writing. It was brilliant.

Meche lives in Mexico City, she has 2 best friends and an ability to cast magical spells. Soon Meche is drunk on its power but can she pull herself back before she doesn’t something she can’t undo?

It’s set in the past when Meche is growing up and when she leaves Mexico City to when her dad passed away and she has to return as an adult. I enjoyed the split timeline equally which rarely happens to me. Meche gets drunk on the power she wields and she goes to a very dark place.

I found the characters charming and well written and the story was fabulous. Casting spells from music? Love it!

4 stars

Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia was so very good. This is the second book I’ve read by Silvia the first was Mexican Gothic which I loved!! If you like magic, family, love, friendships, and music then you will love this book!!

This story will transport you to Mexico in the 80s and 2009, it will take you on a ride with Mercedes “Meche” as she finds love, her friendships with Sebastian and Daniela, as she deals with conflicts, goes through breakups, and discovers her magic through music. I thought this story was witty, creative, magical, nostalgic, and enjoyed the modern take on Mexican folklore. I enjoyed that we got a taste of Mexican culture, got to experience the power of music, and I loved how Silvia incorporated vinyl records into the story, I don’t see that very often. This story also touched on sensitive subjects i.e., illnesses, dysfunctional broken families, bullies, and how it affects kids growing up. I thought this story was so unique and thoroughly enjoyed it. I cannot recommend this book enough. I thought Kyla Garcia did an amazing job narrating the story. Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.