Such a fun, creative audiobook. I mostly listened on my commute, and it made the drive so much better. The full-cast production was so lively, it honestly felt like I was hanging out with the characters in real life.

I enjoyed this audiobook SO much! The full cast was great, and the voice of Stuy was so smooth and easy to listen to. I loved the story and the found family vibes. There was a good mix of humor along with more serious subject matter that made this a perfect YA read. I will definitely recommend it to my students who love Jason Reynolds!

Full Cast: Nile Bullock (Stuy), Mekhi Hawling (Dunks), Jade Williams (Keith), Brandon Miles (Alexis), Ryan Vincent Anderson (Uncle Lucky), Amir Royale (Frankie), Jasmin Richardson (Stuy’s Mom), Christopher Grant (Dom), Khaya Fraites (Ashley), Nadine Simmons (Mrs. Dyson), Robb Moreira (Mr. Garcia), Wé Ani (Lisa), Rocky Anicette (Dylan), Brandiss Seward (Frankie’s Mom), with Siho Ellsmore, Tyrell Buckner, Gina Daniels, Karen Murray, Jonathan Beville, Karla Moore, and Ronald Peet

Stuy has been learning the drums since he was a little boy, all thanks to his mom, a founding member of the punk band The Bed-Stuy Magic Dusters. After high school, Stuy knows he wants to start a band, so when he meets his Uncle Lucky’s cosmos loving landlord, Dunk, the duo set out to find the rest of their members. Stuy, Dunks, Alexis, Keith, and Frankie then form SOUNDTRACK, and to everyone’s surprise, they become an underground sensation

I have been highly anticipating this audiobook since I found out about it! But of course, even once I got my hands on it finally, I waited for a trip back to my hometown so I could have as much of an undisturbed listening as I could (2.5 hours each way) and boy did this book make the time fly!

Everything about this was amazing: the voice actors, the sound effects, the music, the storyline itself! All fantastic! I even jump scared myself a few times with the sound effects from the speaker feedback!

This audiobook is an experience that I can see winning an Audie or two in the future. I can also see people who don’t like audiobooks greatly enjoying this as well (though it will set a pretty high standard for audiobooks they listen to afterwards!)

*Thank you Listening Library and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I don’t care what anyone says not anyone but this book is nowhere near as good as the audio version. I am telling you you have not experienced this book as well as you can if you don’t get the audio, it is awesome! The story is fire by itself as one might imagine coming from Jason Reynolds, it will hit every feeling you have at one time or another. This is one audio that is not to be missed.

I loved this novel, but it is a must on audio vs. physical or ebook. You can feel the book, the sounds, the story, and the music much more by listening to this on audio. Must read for anyone that loves Jason Reynolds or just YA, in general.

This is brilliant. The narrators are all so real as the characters - and the music - oh my god. I love the music. I spent 4 years in NYC in my youth, so I loved all the NYC subway settings. I will highly recommend this to all of our customers. This is a brilliant and beautiful piece of work.


Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC!

Anything by Jason Reynolds is an instant read for me. This audio exclusive follows Stuy as he works to become a drummer in a band, just like his mother was. With Dunks, Keith, Alexis, and Famous Frankie, Stuy forms Soundtrack. They perform in subway stations, becoming a literal underground sensation. Narrator Nile Bullock carries most of the story as Stuy. His voice was perfect and reminded me of a young Levar Burton. The rest of the cast portrayed each character in a clear manner that allows the listener to picture the band. The included music pulls you straight to a performance. I felt for each of their characters and their journeys. I cannot wait to recommend this title to our library patrons.

Jason Reynolds does it again. He is excellent at grabbing the listeners' attention from the very first chapter and keeps them engaged throughout the story. This audiobook is for everyone, but especially those who have ever felt like an outcast or a band kid. The full cast allows the listener to gain insight into the emotions of the characters, and the complete audio with music and sound effects gives the listener an immersive experience. I would recommend this for audiences in grades 8 and up, as some of the language might not be suitable for younger audiences.

"Soundtrack" was fantastic! The story, the full cast narration, and , of course, Jason Reynolds. I loved all of the extra sounds and music during the narration. It made me feel like I was watching a movie. It was so easy to visualize what was going on. Such a great story about a found family, music and life in New York City and understanding others and what they bring to the table. I automatically pick up anything that Jason Reynolds writes and, so far, I have not been disappointed!
#negalley #soundtrack

I loved this audiobook--it has a full cast, great sound effects, and most importantly, music. Study was raised with music in his soul--his mom had been in a punk band as a teen, but left when she got pregnant with him. Still, she kept her drums and that becomes Stuy's dream. To play the drums like his mom. Mom raised him on the drums, so during his senior year in high school, Stuy ends up in a band. And they really take off. Music takes them places they'd never dreamed of.

This audio-only new release will win ALL the audio awards next year, no doubt. A full cast recording with sound effects and original music... it is unlike anything I've heard before. The story, written by Jason Reynolds, was good, too, but the real star here is the recording itself.

This is an immersive audio experience read by a full cast as well as hits the mark on all back ground sounds. Reynolds not only captures teens and their love of music but also New York as a whole--the subway, the sounds, the movement, the people. It is the whole package not anyone in particular. It follows Stuy, who wants to play drums like his mother, who in her younger days was part of a band. His father was her fellow band mate but Stuy has never met him. Always just the two of them...until it wasn't. Stuy ends up going to live with his uncle where he meets another music lover across the hall. together, they search for other to complete their band. And when they find them, the band begins to play around NY and alter their location. Their following grows and so does the issues between Stuy and his mother. This could lead to the downfall of the band. Together, the band will have to "band" together to weather the issues that could tear them apart.
Fast pace and entertaining.

A captivating coming of age story with an emphasis on found family. I emphasized with and rooted for all characters. Stuy, a budding and talented musician, goes to live with his uncle and befriends the young landlord, Dunks. Together they work to form a band, with Alexis and Kevin. Along the way they create unbreakable friendships and work through hardships they encounter.
This was a full cast audio with a unique musical score included. The flow and pacing was well done, and the addition of the sounds and music added to the overall ambience. Every single one of the characters had so much emotion in their voice, respectively depicting each of their characters realistically. Listening was an enjoyable experience.

This is a beautiful audio production! I loved the elements of music added and the whole cast was great.
The story was fun overall and emotional at the right moments. I teared up at one point, which hasn't happened for me with a book in a while.
I love using Reynolds' other works in my classroom and this will be an amazing addition to those. I think this type of audiobook will bring in a lot of reluctant readers!

In Soundtrack, Jason Reynolds continues his tradition of blending lyrical prose with emotionally resonant storytelling, offering readers an immersive and rhythmic journey through music, memory, and identity. The book follows a group of teenagers navigating personal struggles and finding meaning through their shared love for sound and beat. Reynolds masterfully uses music not just as a backdrop but as a central force that shapes his characters’ perceptions of the world and each other. His prose reads like spoken word—raw, honest, and pulsing with emotion—which makes the narrative feel immediate and alive.

What sets Soundtrack apart is its ability to capture the power of sound as both a healing force and a form of resistance. The characters, each distinct in voice and perspective, reflect the diversity of experiences in contemporary youth culture. Reynolds crafts their inner worlds with care, revealing how the beats they love mirror their heartbreaks, hopes, and fears. He seamlessly weaves in themes of trauma, community, and resilience, making the story not only a celebration of music but a meditation on how we carry and express our pain.

Reynolds’ writing is at its best when it leans into rhythm—paragraphs unfold like verses, and the chapters crescendo and decrescendo with purpose. Soundtrack is more than a novel; it feels like a live performance on the page. This book will particularly resonate with teens who see themselves in the static between the notes, but it offers universal truths for any reader willing to listen closely. As always, Reynolds proves that stories told with authenticity and heart can strike the loudest chords.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC for review.

This is a little more 2.5 than 3 but I get the draw as an original audio and it being Jason Reynolds but it was too chaotic with the music and the full cast. I don't think the serious mixed well enough with the humor which included Stuy's trying to follow in the musical footsteps of his mom and putting together a band... named Soundtrack that ends up getting some underground notoriety.

It's an homage to music and connection but I didn't feel to the emotion that I wanted.

I enjoyed this book immensely, even though it made me cry. I was not expecting the entire ending. I suspected one aspect of it, but not all of the heartbreak. I loved the music that was incorporated throughout the book.

This is a great audiobook for teens who love music. I admire how Jason Reynolds tackles tough topics, creating realistic storylines without being preachy. It’s a good pick for book clubs or road trips.

Thanks NetGalley for giving me access to this ALC! It’s the ideal use of the audiobook format — from the wonderful cast of narrators to the music to the background sound effects, it was pitch perfect. I especially loved Stuy’s affinity for tap, particularly Savion Glover, since I was a tapper for 20 years and it’s a dance form that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. -1/4 star for the tangent about Alexis in the last 25% of the story that slowed down the plot and didn’t make for interesting audio since it was music-less. Otherwise, no notes. Jason Reynolds is a genius.

Jason Reynolds never disappoints. This is the story of a group of teenagers who find each other through music. As they get to know each other, they become a sort of family, despite their varied backgrounds and experiences. Like a family, they fight and struggle, but they also love and sacrifice and work together. I didn't find this book to be as powerful as others I've read by Reynolds, but I did quite enjoy the full cast audio narration and sound effects, It really helped create the atmosphere and vibe of busking in NYC. The story gets 4 solid stars from me and the narration gets 5, so 4.5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a free audio copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.