To say this book is good does not do it justice.

I loved every word of this book. I love Sabrina's story and of course River.

Laura had me in the first chapter and I just knew I was going to love it.

Their romance was amazing and I fell in love with Sabrina right away.

If you are looking for an amazing romantic book - look no further. You have to read this one!!

What an absolute gem of a read! Laura Lo Sapio has crafted a beautifully lyrical story that perfectly balances the heavy weight of grief with the uplifting power of music. I was completely swept away by Sabrina’s journey as she navigates her first semester at Boston Music College while honoring the memory of her twin brother, Alex. The emotional depth in this book is staggering—it manages to be both heart-wrenching and hopeful all at once, making it impossible to put down.
The highlight for me was the captivating student/teacher dynamic between Sabrina and River. River is such a complex, multi-layered character; as a famous singer-songwriter and visiting artist, he initially seems to have it all, but his own past wounds make his connection with Sabrina feel so raw and authentic. Their "unlikely friendship" blossoms into a palpable, high-tension romance that had me rooting for them from the very first chapter. If you love character-driven stories with a touch of spice and a lot of heart, this is a must-read for 2026!

This is not my typical read BUT OH MY GOSH this book was so good!
This is a cute and romantic read but the grief storyline is what really captures your heart.
Sabrina — she’s dealing with so much, so much guilt and grief along with family issues. Watching her grow and blossom throughout this book was amazing.
River— grew up in foster care, not allowing anyone get too close to his heart. Also blossomed by the end of this book. Of course with Sabrina’s help with her standing her ground and getting on him a few times lol.

This book altered my brain chemistry for the best. Ugh what I would give to read this book for the first time again

Quick Summary: A shades of violet romance

My Review: Nothing Left but Silence by Laura Lo Sapio is a contemporary romance novel. It was released on 1/28/26.

About the Book: "Sabrina always dreamed of becoming a professional musician alongside her twin brother Alex – until his sudden death shattered everything.

River knows all too well that love is not to be trusted. He already has everything he thought he needed: recognition, wealth, and the power to have any woman he desires. But is that really enough?

As ambition and old wounds collide, Sabrina and River must confront their pasts and decide whether love is worth the risk "

In My Own Words: Life, loss, and love merge, allowing two people to find a new rhythm together.

My Final Say: This novel has earned a golden heart rating.

The story went deep for me on the emotional side of things. The echoes of Alex's voice and his influential presence are what did it for me. I loved the very real way the author addressed grief and how each person in the family dealt with it. There was a rawness present that I understood.

River and Sabrina had a connection from the beginning. Watching their relationship unfold was so easy. The growth of both leads and the direction of movement that needed to happen came in a way that allowed real actualization.

I liked the supporting cast of characters. They were colorful and interesting.

I will revisit this story often. The notes still linger.

Other: Readers who enjoy music-themed, slow burn romances that get real will love this book.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA to A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Level: 💛
Format: 📱

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (The Book Guild), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to review this work of fiction. I look forward to reading more from this writer.

I am amazed that a book so short could have such an emotional impact. I was not planning to read this in one sitting, but I couldn't walk away.

Sabrina is still reeling from the death of her twin brother two years ago when she makes the decision to pursue their shared dream. At Boston Music College she crosses path with River, a famous singer-songwriter, BMC alumni, and part-time instructor. The two cross paths and there is an instant connection. Throughout the course of the story, their paths continue to cross, their relationship grows, and they both have to face their pasts in order to move forward.

While short, none of this book felt rushed. Their story was emotional, realistic, and touching. 100% recommend.

I devoured this book in one sitting and I have zero regrets. ZERO! Sabrina is still reeling from the loss of her twin brother 2yrs ago, and even after intense therapy she is struggling to actually live life knowing that he's gone while she's doing what they had always dreamed of doing together. She doesn't feel worthy of her chance because she thinks she's not good enough without him, and without the support of her parents, she lacks the confidence to give her all.

River Evans is a famous singer-songwriter, and as an alum of BMC, he's spending the semester teaching a few master classes and guest teaching in a few others. He initially meets Sabrina outside the emergency exit door after his concert when she's trying to calm down a panic attack after his concert. After he calms her down, he's instantly intrigued, and they soon find themselves running into each other more and more, while they're friendship turns to.. something else. However, River has his own demons after growing up in the foster care system, and never lets anyone too close. What follows is a deeply personal, emotional look at the inner struggles of grief, loss, and moving on.

I loved this book. The grief storyline is so well written, and seeing the personal growth Sabrina makes by the end of the book gives a feeling of palpable relief. And River?? He may seem calm and collected on the outside, unreadable and maybe even stoic to some, but he melts for Sabrina every time. You discover his soft side, his unwavering support for those he cares about, his humility and gratitude for everything he has. "It occurs to me that, in the end, even though River has accomplished all his dreams, he is still that broken little boy. A boy who is now celebrated by millions but continues to wander the world alone." that hurt my heart so bad. He was frustrating at times--in a way that I admittedly can completely relate to--but he had my whole heart. 10/10 recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, Beyond The Books PR, and the author for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book.

I must say for my first time reading a romance book, this book is really good I really enjoyed it. I would definitely rate it a 5/5 star rating I could not put the book down I wanted to keep reading to see what happens next.
I could definitely see this book as a movie!

3.75 round up
2/5 on spice

This story navigated grief nicely. The backdrop of this story is college so it reads more as a new adult story. I love that River called the FNC Violet and would show her the "softer sides of himself"

I enjoyed the concept of this book and the FMC finding her voice (literally via songs) and found the famous singer/sort of her teacher trope interesting. I did feel like we didnt' get a full character development- I would have loved to see her open up to her friends more about her brother and not just River and I would have loved to see more emotional depth to their relationship before going to NYC but overall a good read!

4 out of 5 Stars!

Laura Lo Sapio has absolutely altered my brain chemistry with some of the quotes from this book! I LOVED Nothing Left but Silence. It was truly such a complex and deep romance story that dove into love beyond just the standard romantic love. It highlighted what it means to love a sibling and the pain left behind when you lose the place to put that love.

The book opens with Sabrina bickering with her twin brother Alex, only for the author to reveal that Alex died several years ago. Sabrina is leaving the Czech Republic and her stable job as a music teacher to go to the US and study music against her family’s wishes, but that was her and Alex’s dream–the original plan before he died.

Sabrina was the songwriter, and Alex was the performer, so when she got to school, she was struggling to write and perform, and hiding the loss of her brother because she couldn’t bear to talk about him. That is, until River waltzes in.

River, the famous singer-songwriter and guest teacher at the university, who also happens to be the person who calmed her down after a song-induced panic attack at his show, pushes her out of her comfort zone, forcing her to embrace her own talent and face the loss of her brother.

As River and Sabrina get to know each other, the romance between them blossoms, but both of them have complicated histories, and he is still a professor, so can this even go anywhere, or are they doomed to remain student and teacher?

The romance between River and Sabrina was a tasteful slow burn, and I really appreciated how much they both cared for each other as people, outside of their romantic relationship, they prioritized making sure the other person felt validated and appreciated.

Overall, a wonderful story with beautiful writing. Thank you to Netgalley and The Book Guild for giving me an eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you The Book Guild and NetGalley for the ARC

I enjoyed the book. Really caught that emotional part. It could definitely be a comfort read. The book starts off with passion and direction. The progress with the song Sabrina was working on really paid off. The ending did give me a proud sense of feeling, lol.

I do believe the book could have been so much better with<spoiler> her parents realizing the true story and reason behind Alex's death</spoiler>

<spoiler>Silent Plea: Waiting for the song to be released!!</spoiler>

This was a lovely five star read that was easy to enjoy from the very first chapter. The story felt hopeful and engaging, with a great mix of romance and personal growth. I really liked the characters and found myself rooting for them the whole time. It was a smooth, fast read that kept my interest all the way through. I’d happily recommend this to anyone looking for a great read for the new year!

thank you net galley for this arc. i really enjoyed this story,i felt for our fmc sabrina so much it hard to laove in the face of family issues and greif. i also really like how river supported her. read on dec 20 2025

this was such a beautiful read that managed to get the tone right all the way through. this book handles all the themes and topics so well. you can truly feel like this could be someone real somewhere feeling this, going through this, navigating this just like Sabrina did surrounding her grief. and i felt that knot in my stomach for her. and shes not the only one with a story here. River gets laid out for us as if we could then picture every line on his face made from his own past, we could then feel all the more for him too. so in the end you have these two characters you end up wanting the best for, wanted to root for, wanting to follow.
this was a romance read with so much more to it. one you can love and become involved with far too easily which makes it just the best kind of read for me.
Sabrina grows in her own way throughout this. its not linear and its not predictable. it felt just right for her.
the way the pair revolved around each other is a delight. they are both their for the other but also building and helping the other heal for themselves. they arent afraid to call the other out especially Sabrina for River which i loved.
the way River grew and became the man was just...yum! the way he then came to Sabrina with that...oh behave.
the musical base and notes throughout the story felt touching, true and only added to the story without making it over bearing. it was somehow the music in the background like a track playing throughout. it added a new layer that made it part of the pairs story and not somehow a romance musical.
a delight of a read with two mature characters who were easy to wish good things for.

This was such a genuinely beautiful and emotionally grounded read.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is how thoughtfully it handles grief — particularly the tension between loss and allowing yourself to experience joy again. Sabrina’s relationship with the grief of losing her brother is woven into the narrative with real care and restraint. There’s a perfect balance between moments where she is getting the life, love, and music she wants, only to be suddenly interrupted by her brother’s voice or memory. Those moments are heart-wrenching precisely because they feel so real — the way grief doesn’t disappear, but coexists alongside happiness. That emotional duality was handled exceptionally well and is a standout element of the story.

I also loved the international cast of characters — a FMC from Prague, a best friend from Spain, and a story so firmly rooted in Boston that the setting felt vivid and intentional. The sense of place was strong throughout and added real texture.

The MMC is the perfect level of tortured. As both a music star and her teacher, his character felt like the right amount of 'should we/shouldn't we'. We also get a detailed backstory, which worked well and made him feel grounded rather than idealised.

The last quarter of the book did feel somewhat rushed, with a lot happening in a short span, and there were moments where the writing felt slightly clunky. That said, neither detracted significantly from the emotional core of the story.

Sabrina’s character arc was refreshingly mature. Rather than reacting dramatically, she takes what she’s offered at face value, recognises when she’s gone beyond her own emotional limits, and chooses to step back with clarity and self-respect. Her reconnection with music and her ability to move forward felt earned and authentic.

The found family dynamic at university added warmth and balance, and the Alanis Morissette reference — especially the nod to the Thank You music video — was an absolute highlight.

This is a romantic, music-soaked story with emotional intelligence, thoughtful handling of grief, and the right amount of spice. Highly recommended for music lovers and millennial grunge fans.

I don’t usually read music-centered stories because they often feel unrealistic, but this one was a pleasant surprise. The author’s musical knowledge really shines through, making the setting feel authentic and engaging.

Sabrina is a wonderful protagonist; her grief, guilt and emotional journey were portrayed beautifully. I loved seeing her growth and how River helped her rediscover her strength and confidence. Their connection felt genuine and tender, and the “Violet” nickname was a sweet touch.

The pacing was steady, the side characters and the music school setting added depth without overshadowing the main story, and the emotional payoff by the end was very satisfying. I loved how she did not let River's behavior slide and called him out on it. I did though, had some issues with River. He was supposed to be the mature/grown-up one but often it felt like Sabrina was the more mature one. Still, by the end of the book he became the man I was hoping he was.

Spice level maybe around 3/5, with most focus on emotion and healing rather than just romance.

For a debut, I think this was really well done.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5★)

This was beautifully written - I loved how the author explored grief and trauma through music. The romance felt natural and the character growth for Sabrina and River was evident. The author's extensive music knowledge added depth and authenticity to the story. There were parts during the story that felt like they were told more than shown so execution wise, some scenes lacked the emotional impact they were aiming to achieve but for the author's debut novel, this was a solid read - 3.75 stars (and of course, shoutout Boston!)

Thank you to Laura Lo Sapio, The Book Guild, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!

#NothingLeftbutSilence #NetGalley

I've just finished reading an ARC of Nothing Left But Silence and enjoyed it a lot. I really felt for Sabrina as she was falling in love while dealing with the feelings of loss and guilt.

I would recommend this book to anyone and sill definitely be rereading many times.

Nothing Left But Silence is evocative and beautiful, Sabrina who goes through a journey of healing and River despite his personal hardships falls for her, taking care of her and showing her love is beautiful. When she opens up to him and starts playing music again is beautiful and their connection is truly deep. I would recommend this book a thousand times over.