This is my Goodreads review, as I'm on a temporary hiatus from my book blog due to pain/fatigue/university. I'm hoping to write a full review for the blog when I return, probably in early April, but for the moment I've just written a few brief thoughts.

I really liked this. It's funny, it explores gender and friendship and identity and growing up in a really engaging and emotional way, and it has loads of niche musician jokes that make me feel like my ten years of Classical music lessons were worth it. While it deals with all sorts of issues (from poverty and disability to sexuality and gender), it gives them their due consideration without getting overly heavy and doesn't lose the lighthearted tone that characterises most of the book. I kept highlighting things that entertained me -- there were some sentences that were written in a way so perfectly to my taste I couldn't help but save them for later.

(Also I was predisposed to like this because the author wrote an amazing parody of Call Me Maybe to be about Nietzsche, and I periodically remember it exists and go listen to it again on Tumblr and it will never not entertain me. 'Cause time will someday / obliterate me)

Eventually when the Bad Pain and Epic Fatigue stop destroying me, I'll be able to give you a more detailed review. In the meantime, I'll just tell you that I liked it and if you have any interest in music or if you thought Pitch Perfect was disappointingly straight, you should pick this one up.

This was prolly the dopest book I've ever read! Loved Jordan and the concept of this book was fresh and unique.

The characters are all really well-developed and unique. I loved getting to know all of them, especially Jordan. She’s so multidimensional it’s hard to acknowledge that she’s entirely a work of fiction. I found it quite easy to relate to her from the overbearing parents demanding perfection to the lack of funding to the non-soprano voice. The best part about her? SARCASM! Jordan laid out some high level sass through the entire story. Even better, the other characters added into it so the dialogue was truly a thing of beauty.

The story is set at a private school in Upstate New York, which is actually part of what made me want to pick it up. The New York State part, not the private school part. Anyway… The world is built up enough that someone like me (who has never set foot on a private school campus) had no trouble imagining what it would be like to be engrossed in the environment. It was truly immersive and I loved it! Except for the snotty private school jerks that presumably come standard with the high tuition setting.

The story told in Noteworthy is more than just Jordan’s story. It’s the stories of a few characters layered together and served up from Jordan’s observations. It’s such a beautiful story and I had so much trouble putting it down when life demanded my full attention. Now that I’ve read it, I’m not at all surprised at how highly recommended it is.

Also, representation! In addition to some awesome a cappella rockstar action, there is bisexual, homosexual, and Asian American representation. Riley Redgate also makes a point of acknowledging that while places are more diversely accessible now, it’s still a new thing and they’re still not all that accessible.

Noteworthy is such a beautiful and fun story. I really enjoyed reading it and I can’t wait for it to be out in the wild so you can enjoy it too! (At least 50% because I need someone to gush over it with…)

Jordan was lucky enough to earn a scholarship to the prestigious Kensington-Blaine Boarding School for the Performing Arts. She has a love for musical theatre, but after two years, she has yet to be cast in a show due to her height and her voice being in the lower register. When the Sharpshooters post an audition call, Jordan sees an opportunity to show she belongs at Kesingington. The only problem is that the Sharpshooters are an all MALE a cappella group.

"since the Kensington a cappella scene was a shade or two less friendly than the mafia, and a shade or two more exclusive."

When I first started reading Noteworthy, I thought it was going to be a She's the Man type comedy. The beginning of the book was light and comical, but as the story progressed, it went a LOT deeper than I expected.

Jordan was struggling with feeling like she belonged. Her parents wanted that proof that she should stay at Kensington. Jordan wanted to prove that she belonged at Kensington, and she also wanted to feel like she belonged. Jordan spent the first two years in her "love bubble" with her boyfriend, who after moving on from Kensington, also moved on from her. There she was, junior year - no boyfriend, no friends, and no roles. The Sharpshooters filled a bigger hole than she anticipated. It wasn't just earning the spot in the group, she began to grow, struggle with her identity, and find herself.

One thing Redgate explored from multiple sides was sexual orientation. She had gay, lesbian, and bisexual characters, who were in varying stages of figuring out or coming out. Some were fully out, some were in relationships but in the closet, while others were at the early stages of understanding their own sexuality.

"even just pretending to be a guy was changing me. It was letting me access parts of me I'd pushed back, and parts I didn't know I'd had, and I wanted that version of me. I liked her better. She was new, she was interesting, she felt in charge."

There was some interesting commentary of being female versus male in our society. I was really struck by how Jordan felt she had to suppress parts of herself, while she was able to tap into these hidden parts while masquerading as a male.

"A hint of confusion awoke. What did it say that I'd gotten so addicted to my male disguise? If girlhood felt frustrating, and boyhood felt freeing, did that say more about girlhood, boyhood, or me?"

Redgate assemble a very diverse cast of characters, and I hope everyone can see themselves somewhere in this book. In addition to many being under the GLBT umbrella, there are characters of color, plus sized characters, and socioeconomically disadvantaged characters. Jordan's socioeconomic status plays an important role in the story, and her lifestyle is quite a contrast to those of her Kensington peers.

I don't want to mislead you, there are a lot of lighter moments in this book too. Many of the scenes with the Sharpshooters are full of humor and great banter. There are many, many bromantic moments, and I loved getting to know all the guys in these moments.

I only ever sang in the church and school choir, but I do love a cappella. The passages describing the musical interludes were so vivid and rich. I also loved all the musical references. I really enjoyed peeking behind the curtain to see how hard these kids work.

"What the hell was a 'deceptive cadence'? An obscure supervillian?"

And YES! There is a romance. I cannot lie. I saw this ship coming in, and was totally onboard. I loved the way it played out, and wanted more of it.

"The boy in front of me was a past and a present and a future."

Overall: A fun look at the world of a cappella filled with fun and friendship while exploring identity issues.

Holy cow, I love this book.

The good:

- First and foremost, everything rings true, from the overarching issues (race, gender, class, identity) to small details (what it's like to be part of a music group, theatre department politics). Some of it is from the author's own experience, some of it is from careful research and consideration, and all of it is appreciated.

- The intersectionality is real. In the first chapter Jordan doesn't get cast in the school musical and asks the director why. All the options run through her head - is it because I'm not white? Or because I'm taller than the prospective leading men? This feeling, this 'what's the strike against me this time', is real for many and I'm so happy to see it addressed on the page.

- Likewise all the gender issues are thoughtfully and thoroughly considered. I won't go into detail for fear of spoiling things, so here's a quote after Jordan starts dressing as a guy:

"I'd set down the burdens of being a girl, unstrapped them one by one and left them on the roadside, but my shoulders didn't feel any lighter. They were carrying different, unfamiliar weights now. As I stood there in that derelict husk of a theater, I felt like I'd gotten lost in between my lives, and the road ahead looked long and strange and poorly lit."

- There are subtle pokes at the reader to check in with themselves and see how they're doing regarding these issues.

"With so many queer kids at Kensington, people sometimes got weirdly comfortable, like they had a free pass to say anything they wanted about sexuality. I guess it was tempting to stick a rainbow-colored "Ally" pin on your backpack and call it a day, as if that were the endpoint, not the starting line."

Word.

- Redgate name drops songs - this is a book about a cappella, after all - but none of them are real. It's genius. The story will never date itself by the cultural references within, ensuring that people reading it even twenty years from now will feel a minimal amount of generational whiplash.

- The plot never stops moving, the banter is fun, you can feel the found family that forms within the Sharps, and you watch Jordon discover who they are. It's a delightful journey that I look forward to revisiting.

The only not-so-good thing I can think of is that I was shipping a different couple. That's it. So minor.

In sum, Noteworthy is a diverse, inclusive YA novel that's compulsively readable and a whole lot of fun. And it's full of a cappella! What more could you want?

My review will be up in March.

reasons why you should read this:

-asian american main character
-finding out about her bissexuality
-discusses a lot of important topics
-diverse secondary characters
-funny but sad

I love how it tackles very important issues, like transgenderism and the question of what makes you a boy, what makes you a girl? It's handled with care, both in the narrative and in Jordan's thoughts, and you can see Redgate has done her research on the subject.

I also enjoyed how it tackles the idea of religion, and how it links to one's sexual orientation. And the casual sexist that can exist when boys are talking to each other behind closed doors, when they probably don't even realise how hurtful their words could be to girls.

But mostly, I love love love how Jordan discovers her sexuality through the book. It is a big deal without being dramatic, it is important without being at the front and centre, and it touches me in a way no other book ever did before. Like, this book gets me. It gets what my life is about.

More lightly, Noteworthy is a read fun read about music and friendship. The boys in the book are just all wonderful in their own way, and the easy banter between them is amazing. I laughed at so many of their jokes and rolled my eyes at all their bullshit and dramatics.

I enjoyed the story as it was a fresh twist of the drag trope. I would consider buying the book.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book and just enjoyed it sooo much from the first page. It hooks you and it has a great story, great cover, and great writing. I highly recommend it!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy in exchange for a honest review.

Actually rating is 4.5 out 5!

I loved this book so, so much! If I didn't have a huge pile of ARCs waiting for me I would seriously read it again and again. It was so much more than I thought it would. Just looking at the cover and reading the synopsis gave me the impression that it would be a light, laugh out loud kind of story. Like, common, it's about a cappella, something I automatically associate with Glee, cheesy dance moves and sappy love songs. Instead, Noteworthy offered a very honest glimpse into the struggles of coming of age, gender, sexuality, and disability. I did laugh (because there are a lot of funny moments), but I also teared up and found myself nodding or shaking my head a lot. This is totally a must read!

Reasons Why I Loved It:
- It features a Chinese American MC written by a Chinese American author. So it's an #ownvoices book, which we need more and more of.
- The MC is also bisexual, although I wish the author would have gone into more detail. It wasn't the focus on the book.
- It has a diverse cast of characters! The MCs father is a parapledgic and members of the a cappella include a boy with a learning disability and a Sikh who is also gay.
- The boys in this book have well developed and emotionally healthy relationships with one another. It isn't all hormones and back slapping. This was pretty refreshing.
- There are some very funny moments! Sarcasm for the win!
- It honestly talks about menstruation. For example, in one scene the MC's period starts unexpectedly and she's forced to make a pad out of toilet paper. She's then worried about it leaking through. Oh, and the parts detailing period cramps...yeah I could totally identify with it. THANK YOU!! Why do so many books avoid talking about this?
- There was a slow burning romance that didn't take away from character development or social commentary. I LOVED THIS! It was wonderful to see the MC move on from a previous relationship that had a hold on every aspect of her life to moving on and realizing what she wanted. And her love interest was just so accepting and encouraging. AHHHH yes!
- A book about crossing dressing is super tricky because how far do you go when there are trans people who have to deal with so much prejudice each day? I thought the book handled this balance really well. There was one scene where the MC was researching how to bind her breasts and she realizes that she was taking tips from a website that helped trans people. This made her feel guilty and I appreciated her commentary about the struggles trans people go through on a daily basis.

Noteworthy is adorable, important and a book that you NEED to pick up as soon as it's released. Pre-order it, request it from your library, whatever! YOU NEED TO READ IT.

* Also, for fun, the author has posted her recordings of three songs featured in the book. She has a fantastic voice!

First off, I really liked Jordan as a character. It's pretty obvious that the girl is a smart cookie, and I'm not just talking about book smarts ,which the book glosses over. I'm talking about full-on critical thinking of the world and how she fits into it. I loved how she thought not only of herself but empathized with others without claiming their experiences as well. I got on with most of her arguments, agreeing with her and liking how it fits into the story itself. Then there's the fact that I responded well to Jordan's wit. Mainly because it corresponded well with my own. ;) Every time Jordan would make a quippy remark, I'd pause reading to say,"Yes!" So, yeah, I really liked Jordan as a character. :)

The plot itself was okay. It was kind of predictable in some places, and dragged on near the end. Other than that, I didn't really like how the romance was set up. I felt as if the romance could have been taken out of the book and it wouldn't really matter. I guess I just wasn't invested in it as much as Jordan's success with the Sharpshooters. However, I did like how Jordan's backstory is revealed bit by bit and only when it's relevant to Jordan's present. It was a good way to set up the book's exposition, in my opinion.

My main concern when reading this book was the amount of loose ends in it. Jordan's old friends only appear at the beginning of the book but have no further purpose than reminding us what she had lost by centring her world around her boyfriend, Michael. It would have been nice to see some tension between her acting as a boy as well as rebuilding relationships with friends that don't know she's crossdressing. It would make things so much more complicated! :D And then there was the history surrounding the a cappella group, the Sharpshooters. While you get to know more about some of the members, other members remain a mystery, like Trav. I would have liked to know more about him, especially since the book hints that he's been through a lot. But as readers, we only get to know what Jordan knows, and she doesn't really know much about Trav outside of a cappella and his family situation.

Well, that's all I have to say about Noteworthy by Riley Redgate. For anyone whose interested, Noteworthy comes out on May 2nd, 2017. ;)Have a nice day, everyone!

Jordan Sun is a junior on scholarship at the prestigious Kensington-Blaine Academy for the Performing Arts. She’s just been locked out of a role in the school musical for the third year running. Why? Because she’s an Alto 2, while most parts require a higher Soprano range. What’s a girl to do? Cross-dress and audition for the elite all-male a cappella group, the Sharpshooters, obviously! (And nail it.) Now, she’s living a double life, pretending to be a boy while watching her girl self fade into the background. But how long can she keep it up? You’ll have to read to find out.

It’s going to be really hard for me to write a review of Noteworthy that isn’t completely gushing because I absolutely loved this book. Jordan’s slightly sarcastic, highly observant, constantly questioning voice sucked me in from the very first chapter. Her internal monologue sounds exactly the way I felt as a teenager. I was really intrigued by the idea of a modernized cross-dressing plot that addresses gender as a social construct.

As she tries on a masculine identity, though, Jordan struggles with feelings of guilt: she wonders if she’s being disrespectful toward the trans community by using their advice to put on what’s essentially a costume for her. Riley Redgate doesn’t shy away from these conversations, but shows how Jordan’s desperate transformation isn’t that far off from what any of us would do to get what we want. Isn’t high school all about trying on different identities and personalities, performing the part you think will help you fit in? It’s made even more interesting by the detailed way Redgate constructs the Kensington-Blaine boarding school environment. Jordan is surrounded by rich kids constantly so she finds it hard to relate to them. She hasn’t made a lot of friends, since she spent the last two years isolated in her relationship with her ex—even more reason that she longs to belong with the guys in the Sharpshooters.

Part of why this book is so amazing to me is the grace with which Redgate tells a story that’s all about (say it with me!) intersectionality. Jordan is Chinese, from a working-class family; her dad is a paraplegic who recently got totally screwed by the health care and disability benefits system. She’s also figuring out her sexuality: she thinks she’s bisexual, but she’s never had the opportunity to figure it out, as she was involved in a long-term heterosexual relationship through the end of the last school year. Even the side characters are diverse, from her childhood friend Jenna to her new friend Nihal.

There’s a lot going on with this book, but Redgate manages to make all the pieces fit together and feel natural. The various side characters are fleshed-out with their own personalities and quirks. Even Jordan is surprised at how complex each of the Sharpshooters are in real life, and she realizes just how quick she is to judge rich kids by their clothes and status objects rather than who they are inside. This isn’t a political book, though, but a reflection of the complex diversity of humanity—it’s beautiful.

I don’t have anything negative to say about Noteworthy, but I do have a few caveats for any potential readers:

This is not a bisexual “coming out” story. While Jordan does identify as bisexual, this is not the crux of her story. As someone who discovered my own bisexuality at the ripe old age of 22, I really appreciated the nuanced way Redgate handled this. So many stories with bisexual protagonists fall into the trap of “proving it.” As a girl who’s only ever had heterosexual relationships, it’s easy for people to say “well how can you really know if you’ve never been with a girl?” and while Redgate addresses this, she doesn’t spend half the book making a big deal out of Jordan needing to have a relationship with a girl to “prove” her bisexuality. It’s how Jordan identifies, and that’s enough. Even better? None of the other characters make Jordan feel bad about this. This is like some sort of bi paradise, let me tell you.

This is not a romance-heavy story either. Jordan is dealing with a lot of stuff—namely, pretending to be a dude—so she’s not really wandering around having feelings all over the place. When she does have feelings, she works really hard to push those down. A lot of the early backstory deals with her ex-boyfriend, Michael, and the other romance takes a while to build.

The plot is music-heavy. As a former music nerd (and long-time fan of Glee—there, I said it), Noteworthy really struck a chord with me (teehee). The musical camaraderie is real and tangible and heartwarming, but if that’s not your thing, this might not be the book for you.

Ultimately, Noteworthy is about the age-old quest to find where you belong. Sometimes that place does fit into neat categories of boy-girl or gay-straight. Sometimes in order to find where you belong, you have to take big risks and let yourself transform. In the end, for Jordan, it’s worth it—and so is reading her story.

She's the Man meets Pitch Perfect but with more LGBTQIA and PoC representation. Thoroughly enjoyable and surprisingly self-aware, I just could not put this book down. If you're looking for a feel good read that explores deeper themes and doesn't lack substance, then you should pick this up.

Noteworthy is like 'She’s the Man meets Pitch Perfect,' but with a twist. It's outrageously good.

The story subverted stereotypes and made it even better. This book single-handedly saved me from my slump. I came in for the LGBT representation and I come back with so much more.

This is such a stellar story, I am struck with the reverberating otherness of the main protagonist Jordan. She’s Chinese American who is taller than most girls. She’s not perfectly comfortable with her skin. Heck, she can’t even land a role in her school’s play because of her voice. She’s poor and underprivileged. I love that the author fleshed that out, infusing details what makes her even more othered at her prissy environment. It’s achingly real. Even though, Jordan is a minority, the repercussion of her action was still dealt with.

Noteworthy simply have so many layers to unfurl. We have a prim and proper musical director Trav; the resident bad-boy slash enigmatic boy Isaac; a classical music fanatic Mama, the popular kid with learning disability Jon Cox; a visual art Sheikh student Nihal, A fourteen-year-old democrat boy Marcus, and a socially awkward guy Erik. These male characters have a significant role, it’s highly fueled by testerones. I’m letting it slide because Redgate made them more human who deserve empathy.

The story filled itself with several faithful, relevant problems we don’t often see in YA; it seems too much. But this is our reality, too.

For romance readers, yes there is romance, but alas that’s not the focal point of the book.

Review to posted at Hollywood News Source closer to the release date.

This book doesn't come out until May *cries*, so I'll just give you a list of reasons why you NEED to buy this book when it comes out. (But before I do, I would just like to mention that the cover seems a little juvenile for the content of this book, and I wish it had a better one, so keep that in mind. This book is a lot more mature than it seems!)
1. As my dear friend Kirsti (from melbourneonmymind) put it, this is pretty much the book baby of the movies She's the Man and Pitch Perfect. If that doesn't have you sold....... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
2. The diversity! Our MC is Asian American and coming to terms with the fact that she may be bisexual and what that means for her. Other diverse characters include A Sikh character, a gay character, characters with different body types, plus lots of discussion around transgender people, as our MC encounters a website specifically for trans people on tips and advice and there's a great, respectful discussion around it. There are also different characters living on different socio-economic levels and Jordan's father is also a paraplegic and is in a wheelchair and has chronic pain and one of the Sharpshooters has anxiety!
3. It's HILARIOUS. The banter is incredible and you'll be that person who giggles involuntarily in public.
4. THE BROMANCE. The 7 other guys that make up the Sharpshooters are such wonderfully developed, complex characters that I grew to love and adore. They are honestly friendship goals and I love them so much.
5. There's also a rivalry going on between two A Capella groups and I love that the main 'villain' has a lot of depth and complexity to his character.
6. It's an #ownvoices book. Enough said.
7. There were certain passages that sent chills down my spine for their relevance and honesty.

ARE YOU CONVINCED YET? I could literally go on forever, but alas, my obsession with this book is already at an all time high, so I'll stop for now. JUST GO AND PRE-ORDER THIS WONDERFUL BOOK.

NOTEWORTHY is a glaringly realistic window into the world that is much needed on the teen shelves in bookstores today. Both a drama and a humorously wild tale of a cappella, brotherhood, and finding one’s way in the world no matter the obstacles stacked against you.
-pooled ink Reviews

I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book, it isn't my normal type or read but I am pushing myself to read out of my comfort zone. I was glad I did because it took me on a deeper journey than I thought,. My initial expectations of the book were that it is just a story about an A Capella group. What I mean by this is people fighting over songs, people wanting to join the group and all that type of typical group dynamics exploration. As it turned out it wasn't that simple, I was led on a journey getting to know Jordan/Julian and her/his desire to be accepted, to have her time in the spotlight only having to disguise herself to do it and bonding with a group of guys all unique and valued in their own way.


The most confusing/disappointing/underdeveloped part of the story was about Michael, I know there were snippets of him throughout the book whether it was a memory or just the mere mention of his name. Yet, when I first began reading the book I felt that his role was going to be larger than it was and his character would be developed further which essentially wasn't to be. I can see how vital his role was to the whole plot of the story and Jordan accepting herself and moving on, so I also recognise that any more added content would have probably been taking the book in the wrong direction. So while I was confused and disappointed I also understood the possible reasoning behind the story line.

While I cannot give the ending away...you really need to read the book yourself, I will say I was satisfied with the ending.

my review: https://youtu.be/Al-lfMjFQW0?t=12m23s

Just finished reading this book and I absolutely loved this book. So many feelings I have from reading this book. I loved the way diversity was showed through out reading this book. For those who looking for more diverse books need to add Noteworthy to their TBR Pile.

NOTEWORTHY is a poignant story that explores bisexuality, manhood & womanhood, and the a capella environment. We start out with Jordan Sun, who is a junior trying to find her place in the world of Kensington. She feels like she's failed, because she's got rejected for a role every single time that she's auditioned for the musical. Plus to add to that, she is an Alto 2, which doesn't fit the regular "feminine" voice range, so it's seen like she's a lone wolf floating on an island.

One day she gets an email, that tells her that there's an opening into the Sharpshooters, an elite a capella group who is worshiped by the student on campus. Jordan wants nothing else then to feel a part of something, to stop feeling so isolated. There's only one problem: since the beginning of the groups's history, this has only been a male-only group.

Our main protagonist Jordan, feels so authentic, yet different then every other "rich" kid that's on campus. She Chinese America, has a taller height than average, and feels confident. There's realistic financial problems that she has to face; she came from a poor and underprivileged family, her father is disabled and mother has part-time job, and she's riding on a full scholarship and doesn't have the money for plane tickets.

This type of nuanced discussion needs to be happened more and more in YA. Bringing out the shame of relying on government programs to buy food and the inability to pay for college, perhaps help other people. They feel like they're not alone, they see Jordan that is "other" yet it also seems like the things that she's going through are realistic. This is reality for many people (like Jordan), and it needs to be more represented in the YA lit. that we are reading.

As a side note, the subplot of this book is romance, but it's definitely not the main focus. Her bisexuality isn't the main focus either, there isn't that much attention in that department. I'm ok with the author choosing not to really focus on that, because this is her artistic work, and Jordan's sexuality is only one part of her life.

What would really bother me is when I hear readers say (view spoiler). No way, you can't just go and invalidate that big part of their identity. You know what, I honestly did not feel the chemistry between her and her love interest at the end of the book, but she can be with whoever she wants. period. I can respect that and her decisions completely.

I could really connect to all of her anecdotes about being a theater kid and trying to audition her way into musicals and getting rejected. That's where the author hooked me on being deeply connected with Jordan as a character. I loved how Redgate put an emphasis on singing and a capella group, and how everything isn't as it looks like. There are points of rivalry and struggles and tension between the group members, which makes their humanity shine through. I mean, we all get that drama happens in choir, right?

**Thanks to NetGalley the publisher for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own**