As an adult reader, I approach reading and rating YA as such: I give star ratings according to my genuine level of enjoyment of the book as I currently exist and experienced it. In reviewing, however, I always give a great deal of thought to how a book may have impacted me when I was in its target demographic. This is the type of book where, had it existed when I was in middle or high school, I may have discovered the locked doors inside myself a lot sooner. Plett explores such a wide variety of complicated themes around visibility, fame, and identity in this novel, and plays with all of it through the lens of hiding in plain sight. I enjoyed that the common trope of hiding identity was on its head a bit here: Sasha, one of our protagonists, who is famous in an anonymity-preserving way, escapes the limelight and comes out as nonbinary, vowing to finish out high school as their true self. The story starts with Sasha unmasking metaphorically and literally, allowing their peers to see one of the most important parts of their identity, while shielding another huge truth about their life and experience.

The way that Wavelength approaches the topics of gender identity and sexuality is incredibly kind and thoughtful, though at times, borders on over the top. Sometimes, the ways characters conceptualized their own identity and talked about it in narrative or in dialogue felt wedged in there. It was very idealistically crafted, rather than blending in with the characters' actual voices, and certainly didn't sound the way any teenagers I know speak.

It felt like Plett was uncertain about what style they were trying to write in: many of the chapters felt borderline journal-entry style, which didn't feel different enough from the excerpts of in-universe written text (e.g. things like Lillian's six easy steps to recapture your spark, or song lyrics). There was a casual nature to the narrative that straddled the line between what I expect from stories in 1st person perspective and this almost-epistolary nature. For example, Lillian on page 212 says "very distracted by Sasha next to me, did not cuddle, haven’t told Cyprus about that because reasons blegh I don’t know", which feels like a diary entry to me, complete with the grammar to match. If Plett had committed to making the entire narrative this more casual style, perhaps moments like this wouldn't stand out so noticeably.

For me, not having the details of what Sasha's past and the legal trouble their brother is in up front helped, because wanting to find out what happened motivated me to get through the story. I thought the pace of revealing the information was a little bit slow, however, and that at times info was almost talked around in spots where it could have made sense to explain the backstory in more detail.

I'm glad this book exists! I can't wait for young people to get to read this and for it to find its audience who love it. Perhaps my past self could've even been in that group! But now, as an adult, this is something I probably would have set down or skimmed through had I not been reading an ARC.

Thank you to Groundwood Press and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Between the plethora of queer representation and the fact that this book is so music-centric, this book immediately seemed right up my alley. While some of the plot points did feel a bit predictable, I still flew through this book and was left wanting to know what would happen.

I went back and forth with what to write because I don’t like leaving negative reviews especially with ARC books… but I really struggled to like this book.

The vibe of this book is nice, the atmosphere and universe feel realistic and fun. However, the villain plot point didn’t land for me. It felt too forced.

The main reason I didn’t care for this book was the characters, there was a good amount of LGBTQIA+ rep but there wasn’t much depth. There were more descriptions on how the characters looked than what they were feeling. Also the one character literally drinking while in high school was just an ick.

Favorite Quote: ❝ Better late than never. Even when you know the way someone views the world is wrong, it takes a while to unlearn what you're surrounded by. A lifetime, maybe. There are tendrils of intruding thoughts, irrational prejudices, disgust toward yourself and everyone who doesn't check an improbable list of boxes that shouldn't need to be checked. ❞

Love to see queer rep, and love a rockstar story! Beautiful coming of age, found family, this is definitely for fans of heartstopper! Thank you for the arc! I loved it!

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

Wavelength follows the lives of nonbinary pop star Sasha, who ditched the limelight in order to live their reality. They can't quit music entirely, winding up in an upcoming alt rock group Wavelength, who's lead singer finds herself falling for Sasha. The story is a poignant and funny coming of age tale about the sacrifices one has to make in order to live one's truth. Even if it comes back to haunt them. Adding in humor, music, and the pitfalls of a high school romance, I loved this story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy of this young adult novel by @caleplett. I really loved it, and I didn’t want to stop reading. It was a nice palette cleanser from the darker, grittier stuff I read a lot.

17 year old Sasha is half of the brother duo pop sensation, Admirer, but when an opportunity to disappear arrives, Sasha takes it. They join a high school in the middle of nowhere, embracing their chosen name, they/them pronouns, and their genderqueer identity. All they want is to lie low and ride out their senior year in anonymity before the Channel finds them and drags them back to fulfill their contract.

All that changes as they become entangled with Lillian and her friends, Quinn and Cyprus, and their punk band Wavelength. Lillian is all sharp edges and depths of feeling and jagged hopes and dreams, but she sees Sasha in a way they haven’t experienced before. And before long, Sasha has been pulled into Wavelength and a relationship with Lillian, all against their better judgement.

But can Sasha keep the two worlds of their life separate? And if not, can they somehow keep their new friends safe from the retribution of the Channel and their manager?

A great queer story about found family and the way music isn’t just a hobby, it’s lifeblood to some people, aimed at middle and high school readers. Has very mild spice, nothing graphic, totally age-appropriate in my opinion.

-Genderqueer MC
-Bisexual MC
-Trans man side character (love you, Quinn)
-Found family
-“Queer Hannah Montana”
-Hidden identity
-Music is life
-Young adult reading group(ages 12-18)

3.5 stars

Wavelength is a story about discovering yourself and found family. I was so compelled by the four individuals of the friend group, each having their own character arc and relationship with Sasha. That being said, I almost wish there was no romance in it to begin with, as I feel like that detracted from the friend group story as a whole. I also am big on no sexual references in YA books, and having a romance introduced some of what I view as unnecessary sexual references about minors.

I also wish we had explored more about Sasha's father, who obviously cared enough about them to give them a way out. It seemed like Sasha's feelings about their parents was overshadowed by the romance with Lillian.

Overall, I enjoyed the found family story here and liked seeing Sasha step into their own identity after playing a role for so long.

First of all, I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review this story

I really struggled to get into this one. I LOVE seeing nonbinary represenation, but I just couldn't get into the writing style and characters. Lilian's points of view were a bit too immature and dramatic for me to truly vibe with

The jumping back and forth between POVS was a little hard to follow. Normally I don't have issue with these, but it jumps so frequently and before a scene is resolved that it makes it hard to shift from thing to thing. I think it would be easier to follow if, instead of jumping back and forth quickly, we stayed on one character and let a scene fully resolve or finish first. For example, the first two POVS of Sasha were them planning to get away, then immediately doing the getaway. That could have been together. The next Sasha POV seems to be at a concert, but we don't know how much time has passed since the previous scene. Same with Lilian, Lilian's is very poetic and all the same pining over Emilie where it's hard to tell how much time has passed.
I did like the natural way lillian catches herself with the use of pronouns and the natural shift from 'he' to 'they' in the writing.

While it wasn't for me at this point in my life, I think this could be an enjoyable read for someone who is in middle to high school!

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.