Day’s YA: CANTO CONTIGO

CANTO CONTIGO by Jonny Garza Villa
9781250875754
4/9/2024
Wednesday Books
Ages 13-18

E-galley available on Edelweiss and NetGalley

Rafael Alvarez is on top of the world. He is the lead vocalist for the best high school mariachi group in the nation, they just claimed their eleventh consecutive win at the Mariachi Extravaganza de Nacional, and he made out with the hottest guy he’s ever seen. Nothing can bring him down. Until his beloved abuelo dies and his parents tell him that the family is moving across the state to San Antonio. Suddenly Rafie is drowning in grief and has to start his senior year at a new school, in a new mariachi group that has consistently gotten second place. He plans to join the group, become their new lead vocalist, and lead the group to their first win. But the problem is, the group already has a lead, and he just happens to be the same guy Rafie hooked up with last year. As Rafie and Rey rival for the spotlight, Rafie struggles to be both the mariachi star his abuelo always believed he was, and the friend and team member that Rey and his classmates deserve.

This rivals-to-lovers (or lovers-to-rivals-to-lovers) story is an ode to Mexican culture, music, and community as Rafie learns to honor all three without sacrificing who he is. It also explores grief in an incredibly beautiful and accessible way that will resonate with anyone who has lost a loved one. Rafie and Rey are both stubborn and angsty teenage boys, but their eventual romance is tender and heartwarming, with all the butterflies of first love. I’d highly recommend this book to fans of Heartstopper or anyone who enjoyed the blend of music and queer joy in BEATING HEART BABY by Lio Min or DARKHEARTS by James L. Sutter. 

“A queer love letter to mariachi music and culture.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Happy reading!
<3 Emily

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Books for Teens 2024
Day’s YA Archives
Adult Books for Teens 2024