My coworker and I were talking about Jason Reynolds as I was reading this book and we agreed that sometimes he gives his characters so many challenges that it's almost cliche. However, Soundtrack is different. Yes, Stuy is fighting with his mom and ran away. But he went to his uncle's house, where he was welcomed. He didn't know his dad but he had a support structure and found family. His mom has abusive boyfriend but it's balanced when Stuy finds his half-sister. The storyline of the rise of the band is very sweet and hopeful that the whole book comes off more (spoiler alert) Lurlene McDaniel than anything else.
The production of the audiobook was very fun. I'm not usually a fan of having a whole cast of narrators and adding in background sounds but this one needed it. The music was really fun and added to the storyline. All the narrators did an excellent job.

I didn’t expect to enjoy this read so much!! Literally a movie 🎥 All the characters were great, set in New York- Traveling throughout the boroughs, connecting w/ people through music. As a music lover, I enjoyed this- Esp certain references (When Dunk was reciting Biggie lyrics lmfao).

Even the hardships felt so real, so relatable. Like you just wanted to root for Stuy so bad. I was super disappointed in his Mother though… Like that’s your only baby girl, like c’mon. You’re gonna choose a MAN that lives in YOUR house over… I absolutely could not, would not, & shall not. It was just so ridiculous, but so real at the same time. He’s so lucky for having Uncle Lucky, but man’s was fr crazy ☠️ He def switched up for the better, but damn Unc lmfaoo. That intro did go hard though, Stuy. Now it makes me wonder how I’d start my movie lol.

The ending was… You just felt it coming, but boy. I felt like it happened too soon 😭😭😭 I did NOT expect to cry during this at all like, I was just tryna do my skincare then BAM!! Now I’m fanning my face trying to not ruin my whole skincare routine. When his Mom started talking, I lost it though 🥺🤍 No Mom should go through that…

I really want a second book though, like the way it ended… I felt like there’s still a bit more to tell. I wanna see a lil romance, the what’s next for the band/family (still disappointed in his Mom though ☠️ I’m gonna hold a grudge forever now lmfao).
Overall, this became one of my favorite audios. The full cast was AMAZING, I wish every audio had a full cast… An actual duet at minimum lol.

Thanks so much to @netgalley and @prhaudio for the ALC of Jason Reynolds's Soundtrack, which will be released on Tuesday. This audio-only novel was just the book I needed at the perfect moment.

Reynolds's story, read by an amazing full cast, centers on Stuy who has always lived alone with his mom, who raised him to love music—especially the drums—as much as she does. She and his dad were founding members of The Bed-Stuy Magic Dusters, but when he found out she was pregnant with Stuy, he left for California. Stuy has never met his dad . . . but he also hasn't missed him much. His mom is nurturing and encourages Stuy to follow his passion for music.

All of that changes when she starts dating (for the first time in Stuy's life) and the guy, eventually, moves in. Things become unbearable, so Stuy moves in with his uncle and meets Dunks, who is just as passionate about music as Stuy is.

Dunks and Stuy go on the hunt for other members to fill out their band, and they find Alexis (bass), Keith (trumpet), and Frankie (TBD). As the group works to find their identity, together and separately, a gorgeous soundtrack helps to tell their story.

Reynolds, as always, has such a gift for teenage voices, and I came to love these characters so much. The novel has twists and turns that I enjoyed, but the music is always at the center. This would be a perfect addition to anyone's summer TBR!

Jason Reynolds continues to be a powerhouse for middle grade/teen reads. Soundtrack is a fantastic audio production complete with a full cast and accompanying music! I loved it so much. The story follows main character Stuy, a teen who joins a band of teens, as he navigates his family troubles and his band's sudden popularity in the New York subway system they play in, Full of emotion and heart and real life, Soundtrack is yet another 5 star read of Reynolds' from me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Audio | Listening Library for giving me an advanced digital copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

A fun audiobook that listens as a "soundtrack." Jason Reynolds is a master at story telling and creating real life characters. His newest book does not disappoint. I loved all the of sound effects added to bring the story to life.

A different and refreshing story with a sense of realism. I wouldn't think the age group it's intended for would gravitate to this particular title, however, the author is able to to pull it off with the great storytelling and realistic relationships that pop through the audiobook. A full cast and sound effects add to the realism.

Stuy knows he can make a living playing the drums, even if his mom is unconvinced. When life at home with his mom's boyfriend makes staying there a problem, Stuy moves in with his uncle. Stuy meets another musician, and together, they find a couple of street musicians they want to play with. Can five strangers become a street band? And what happens when life gets in the way of the music?

Soundtrack is another example of the prowess of Jason Reynolds. The story is solid and tackles tough issues that teens find relatable. The audio format is stellar, and adds so much to the story. This would be a great read aloud for high school students for sure, and possibly upper middle school as well.

Summary: In early-2000s NYC, a teen drummer and his friends form an underground subway band that unexpectedly rises to fame, transforming their lives and forging a powerful found family through music

Read by a full cast and with an original score by Grammy-winning composer Justin Ellington, award-winning author Jason Reynolds shows us a found family coming of age in a wonderfully complex city.

Narration review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration was excellent!! Full cast with sound effects was perfect.

Story review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Soundtrack is a captivating, emotionally rich story that perfectly captures the pulse of early-2000s New York City. With themes of family, loyalty, friendship, and the powerful bonds of found family, it delivers both heartwarming and heartbreaking moments. Jason Reynolds’ signature lyrical style and strong character voices shine, making this a perfect listen for older middle grade and YA audiences.

Soundtrack is an amazing full-cast audiobook by Jason Reynolds. It's like having a movie theater experience in your ears. Soooo good! It'd definitely on the YA side (versus middle-grade) due to language, so keep that in mind.

Stuy is a teenager living in New York. He was named after the neighborhood where he was born (Bedford-Stuyvesant). His parents used to be in a punk rock band and passed on their musical talents to him. His dad disappeared when he was young, and now his mom has a boyfriend who treats her badly. When Stuy joins a band and they begin performing in subway stations, they instantly become a hit throughout all of New York. Without giving too much away, I will say that this audiobook only adds to my love of all things Jason Reynolds.

Huge thanks to Penguin Random House Audio, Listening Library, and NetGalley for a review copy of Subway by Jason Reynolds.

This is. Book that is meant to be listened too. The full cast audio and music made it an amazing experience. The story was a delightful emotional experience.

I always expect greatness from Jason Reynolds but WOW, this one was amazing. The book follows Stuy as he forms a band and gains a following, but it is so much more than that. It is about family, loyalty, and friendship. There are beautiful moments that showcase the closeness of a found family and there is heartbreak, disappointment and loss. I will be recommending this book to everyone and thinking about it for a long time to come.

I don't usually enjoy full cast audiobooks, but this one was done PERFECTLY!!! The narrators were amazing! The story was captivating from the beginning to the very end! Jason Reynolds is an amazing author!!

I’m a huge fan of Jason Reynolds so when I saw this one I knew I needed to read it. This was a listening library audiobook original! Full cast with an original score! Amazing! It is a book about music and features music! Great for older middle grade and YA listeners, or fans of Jason Reynolds who enjoy lyrical storytelling and strong character voices.

Set in New York in the early 2000’s. Stuy and his friends form a band that plays at random locations by word of mouth. Their following grows and they become an underground sensation! There are some mishaps along the way and some emotional parts to this journey. I loved it and highly recommend.

** Power of music to connect, heal, and express identity
** Found family and friendship

I love the cast that was chosen to bring this audiobook to life! The voices and the music swept me into the story and I was truly invested in every character that was introduced. The story greatly illustrates the importance of chosen families while also delving into the complexities that come with families both chosen and blood-related. I highly recommend this audiobook to teenagers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Audio for providing this ARC for review.