Thank you to Net Galley and House of Anansi Press for the arc for my honest review.

Dual pov(1st person)/3 out of 5 stars

The story is told by Lillian and Sasha's pov. If you are looking for a cute read with lgbt characters who love music. This book is for you. I think I went into it with such expectations that I was let down with the pacing of the story. I think if it was about 50 to 75 pages shorter, the pacing would have been better.

I loved the ending and the beginning but I think I waited so long for one thing to happen that I just waited most of the book for it to happen.

I loved the premise of the book but I thought it was hard to keep my attention the whole time.

I wanted to love this one so much but there are a few elements that caused me to stop reading around 12%:

-heavy text message formatting (this is a me thing. I just need the physical final book I think when texts are in a book as it’s hard to connect with the story when the format keeps changing)
-writing style was not for me
-dialogue felt a bit too young/immature. This is why I usually do not pick up YA romances but I had to give this one a try because of the cover and premise!

The reasons you might love this even though this book isn’t for me:
-cute pop stars
-high school environment
-queer characters able to exist

I know this book will be loved and cherished by the right audience. I’m bummed this didn’t connect for me. Thank you for the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.

Hannah Montana meets Heartstopper is the perfect description for this book. I was giggling and kicking my feet at some moments and flat out laughing out loud at others!!! I love a book that goes against cliches, especially when it’s a queer book! This has E.L. Massey vibes, and I’m obsessed! I’m actually in love with these characters. More from this author IMMEDIATELY please and thank you <3

Wavelength hit all the right notes for me. I know it is corny to say that when speaking about a music-themed novel, but I am corny as heck, ahah.

I agree with both comparison titles used. Wavelength is infused with the vibes those media have, but it is not a copy! It is its own thing and that is a great aspect of the book. Sometimes, other books tend to fall into being too similar to their comparison titles, but luckily this is not the case.

I appreciated that the characters were fully-realised people and not insipid. The writing was flowing and the themes were captivating. Absolutely recommended!

if u are like a HARDCORE heartstopper fan this will be absolutely your jam no pun intended. if you ever wrote a terrible song while you were 13 and having your first gay crisis this will probably also be absolutely your jam. if you're transfem in specifically a pink skirt + crop top way you'll probably like this too.

ive been getting very into music in the past week or so so this book hit me at a good time & i had fun! i thought it was going to be just a quick romance, but this is actually a pretty long book with a very solid supporting cast (hence the heartstopper comparison). this book never punched me in the gut with emotion -- i wish it had been able to --- but i had fun nevertheless, worth my time

This hit that sweet spot between teen angst, queer joy, and messy band drama—with just enough chaos, softness, and glitter to make it feel honest. Some plot points stretched belief a little and the ending could’ve used more breathing room, but the cast is lovable, the gender euphoria is real, and the music scenes absolutely slap.

This book didnt pull me in. I read about 15% before DNFing it. I think i'll try again in the future because the writing wasn't bad. I just couldn't get into it

DNF!

Before I get into my review of “Wavelength”, I’d like to thank NetGalley for the ARC!

I’m sorry but this book just wasn’t for me, and I know that that is my fault. As a typically sapphic-only book reader; I wanted to change it up and I feel this book just isn’t for me. I can definitely see how people would like this book but still it wasn’t for me.

What can I say but that I am obsessed. I feel as though this book healed something in me. So many spectacularly gorgeous lines & sentiments, and I just loved it with my whole heart.

Wavelength had great ensemble cast energy and queer coming-of-age vibes, but it didn’t totally land for me. The Heartstopper comparison fits for that reason, but I would say it’s less romance-heavy, and a bit more atmospheric. The universe is fun, and the cast feels real.
it was sooo hard to buy into the Big Bad villain plot, its an incredibly shallow Idea of how the industry works. And the genderqueer main character, despite getting POV time, barely scratched the surface emotionally. We’re told what they look like more than what they feel, which made the whole transition arc weirdly hollow.

This would hit for a YA reader who starts a zine with their friends and keeps a half-broken amp in their bedroom.

** spoiler alert ** This book man. 4.5/5 easy.

I want to say in spirit it was a one sitting read but in practice it was a several nights read because it was just long enough and I was just busy enough I couldn't get it all in one, or even three sittings. But I wanted to.

It was so cute from the start. The characters really have their own personalities which is nice because sometimes parts of the, 'friend group,' are just there as names to react. Here though they all had their things going on. And I really loved the fact that they didn't always agree with eachother. Infact our two main characters were often enough in the wrong and called out for it which made them more real.

I actually really liked the double POV. It was a little hard to remember at times who we were with in that moment but I blame that on the way that ARCs scroll on Kindle. As far as how the story actually flowed, the back and forth really fleshed out all sides of the interactions. And I think my favorite part of it was the teeny tiny chapters when it was the other character for a few sentences, maybe a paragraph or two, before switching back. They added just that little bit of, 'other,' detail that really made some of the parts.

The song lyrics were such a nice touch. This story is so heavily based around music that it just made sense but also you get deeper into the characters and their feelings/thoughts through their music.

The plot itself is cute, moves along smooth. I dunno how realistic it was when it came to how accepting the town was as a whole or how little the Channel came looking/nobody questioned a kid on their own. But I accept that all as it's a YA coming into yourself/romance and sometimes things are just that way. Plus it was nice that in this world there were just good places.

The drama and issues the characters all face are interesting and cliche in a good way, while also adding in some extremely new ones that were refreshingly inclusive.

You really easily fall in love with certain characters. For me it was Alexander/Sasha. They were a delight and you were really rooting for them the entire time. Even the smaller details of them trying to figure out what to wear so often were adorable but really important for their actual growth and acceptance of themself.

Now to the other bits.

I liked Lillian don't get me wrong. But sometimes she was a bit much? It was a huge point of the story, will they won't they/who will it be? But at a few points I found myself being a tiny bit overwhelmed with her. However i think it really worked for her anyway as shes a bold, loud, sometimes rough around the edges person. However still loved her and not the reason for the missing .5 star.

The only reason this wasn't a solid 5 star for me was the ending. It was a fantastic build up, there were twists there at the end that I didn't see coming. But it felt a little rushed? Like a lot of really big stuff the entire book has been building towards, all happens very very quickly. I just wanted there to be more. Either more while it was happening or more after. It was a satisfying ending for sure but I was still left with a, 'okay but what now?' What did Sasha end up doing? Where did they end up staying? What happened with either band? How did the public take it? Etc.

All I can hope for in that case is maybe there will be a sequel.

All in all I loved this book enough i pretty quickly preordered a physical copy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Groundwood books for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wavelength by Cale Plett is a captivating young adult novel that seamlessly blends themes of identity, love, and the complexities of fame. The story follows Sasha, a teen pop sensation who has always maintained a layer of anonymity by performing with their face covered. Facing mounting pressure to unmask in public, Sasha escapes to a small Midwestern city, hoping to finish their senior year and come out as nonbinary away from the limelight. Their plan takes an unexpected turn when they encounter Wavelength, an alt-rock band, and its lead singer, Lillian.

Plett's writing is engaging and authentic, capturing the nuances of Sasha's journey toward self-acceptance and the blossoming relationship with Lillian. The portrayal of Sasha's experiences with gender euphoria and the challenges of living under the public's scrutiny adds depth to the narrative, making it a resonant read for many.

The dynamic between Sasha and Lillian is both tender and electric, offering a refreshing take on young love and the complexities of navigating relationships in the face of personal growth and external pressures. The band's rise to fame adds an exciting backdrop to the story, keeping readers invested in the characters' journeys.

Overall, Wavelength is a beautifully written novel that explores the intersections of identity, love, and the pursuit of authenticity. Cale Plett has crafted a story that is both heartwarming and thought-provoking, making it a must-read for fans of contemporary young adult fiction.

Book Review: Wavelength by Cale Plett
⭐️⭐️/5
ARC provided by NetGalley

I wanted to love this one—I really did. It had so many elements that usually hook me: queer representation (truly out the wazoo), a fun and inclusive concept, and a clear message that love is love. But somewhere along the way… it just didn’t click.

The format of the writing threw me off, and while I appreciate a book that aims to educate, this one felt a bit too heavy-handed for my personal taste. It started to feel more like a lesson than a story, and that made it tough to stay engaged.

That said, I am glad our main characters found their happy ending—and I know this book will absolutely resonate with the right reader. Unfortunately, that reader just wasn’t me.

thank you so much to netgalley for the arc!!
this book 😭😭
THIS. BOOK.
Actually in love with the characters, the vibes, EVERYTHING
I loved how this book could mash up so many different life lessons, be super wholesome, but also manage to rage against the machine a little bit.
Every scene and situation in this book went against average tropes and cliches, to make something even BETTER
genuinly so good and i love this so much 😭😭😭💕💕💕😍😍🥹🥹