Review Title:  Music and Love, Lost  and Found (review of Unwritten Melody by Tessa Emily Hall)

Reviewer:  Janice S. Garey

***** 5 Stars

This book grabs the reader’s heart and doesn’t let go. All the characters and scenarios are believable and make the reader care deeply for Cassie and James, who are struggling through high school, each with complicated backstories and reputations. They are lovable and have flaws similar to what people encounter in each other daily. Misunderstandings, defensiveness, and awkward outsider viewpoints give an endearing glimpse into the ups and downs of budding love. The reader will feel like cheering and waving pom-poms for the two as they navigate the heights and depths of the stream of their young lives. Music accompanies and enlivens them in their intertwined point of view stories.

The book holds treasure in the form of lyrical writings, secrets that the reader can only guess at until near the end of the book,  and offerings of hope for those readers who may be sunk low in their own bad season of life. This is an excellent YA novel for those who appreciate mature subjects covered in a pure manner (without swearing or sex scenes). The book will appeal to the feminine population, however, if a guy happens to pick it up to read, he will relate to the male point of view shown through the James character. This book could easily be a springboard for a series about these wonderful characters. And it would make a really good basis for a screenplay and movie.