Publisher's Weekly Review
The indie music scene takes center stage in the delightful first The Lillys romance from Axelrod (When Frankie Meets Johnny). At 12, Antonia "Toni" Bennette is sent to live with her estranged father, so that her mother can chase her dreams of stardom unencumbered. Upon arriving in small town Bordon, Pa., Toni befriends 13-year-old Sebastian Quick. Over the next five years, the two bond over their love of music and their awful fathers and make a pact to escape Bordon together. But Seb breaks his promise when he disappears. Eight years later, Toni hopes to save enough money to become a partner at Philadelphia's The Phactory studio and work toward a more inclusive music industry. Despite her desire to stay out of the spotlight and avoid her mother's mistakes, Toni takes a gig as a fill-in guitarist for up-and-coming rock group The Lillys in order to raise the money. There's just one problem: Seb is their manager. And as Seb and Toni grow close once more, the past comes back to haunt them. The second-chance romance is solid, Toni's search for self-worth will draw readers in, and the distinct personalities of each of the Lillys shine. This is a gift for music lovers. Agent Nalini Akolekar, Spencerhill Assoc. (Apr.)
Kirkus Review
Childhood best friends unexpectedly reunite when both start working for the same up-and-coming rock band. Antonia Bennette spent her early childhood traipsing through the back rooms of clubs with her struggling-musician mother, Mary, watching as she lost herself to seedy club owners and a gambling addiction. That is, until Antonia was shipped off to live with Mo, the father she'd never met, who turned out to be an emotionally abusive bar owner in the middle-of-nowhere town of Bordon, Pennsylvania. If Antonia's childhood wasn't all bad, it was thanks to Sebastian Quigley. The two teens bonded over a shared a love of music and big dreams of escaping Bordon for good. But it's been years since Seb left town and never looked back. Now Antonia, known publicly as Toni B, is a 25-year-old playing open-mic nights at a Philadelphia dive bar, and Seb is managing the members of breakout girl band The Lillys. When Seb fails to stop their guitarist from partying long enough to focus on the band's big showcase, the group decides to teach her a lesson by temporarily replacing her. And Philly phenom Toni B is at the top of their list. Now Seb and Toni must put their differences aside to get what they want--for Seb, his band's success; for Toni, enough money to buy into a studio and make her dream of producing music a reality. But they both know that the road to stardom never did run smooth, and their pasts are closer than they think. Axelrod prefers pages of internal monologue to a fast-moving plot, which makes for a repetitive reading experience. The characters are interesting, though, as is the author's deft take on the modern music industry. A sweet story of found family and the power of music. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Antonia "Toni" Bennette is a brilliant guitarist scraping by with session gigs and open mics. She's not interested in the rock-star life; she just wants to make a living. When the mercurial lead guitarist of the Lillys takes a hiatus, Toni auditions. What she doesn't know is that Sebastian Quick, the Lillys' manager, is Sebastian Quigley, Toni's best childhood friend who broke her heart when he left her in their one-horse Pennsylvania town when he turned 18. Soon, Toni returns home to reclaim Minx, her mother's beloved Gibson guitar, then tries to figure out how to fit in with the band. As Toni and Sebastian's walls start to fall, the non-fraternization clause in the band's contract looms large. Axelrod's characters shine, from each of the Lillys' quirks to Toni's best friend Yvette's tough love. The plot twists but never loses its focus on Toni and the music. This book doesn't even need a playlist, so ably does Axelrod engage all of the senses in describing Toni's playing. Fans of Daisy Jones & the Six (2019) will enjoy this rich, romantic novel.
