I’ve read three of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s works before, so when I requested for this book’s ARC and got approved, I was so thrilled to read yet another masterpiece of hers. As usual, she never disappoints.

Signal to Noise shines its light on three friends who discovered a powerful magic within music. In 1988, Meche, a headstrong teenager, only has Sebastian, Daniela—both as awkward as her—and her vinyl records to keep her company. Everything seems to be possible when they learned how to cast spells through music: rise from their statuses, find love, and every social prerequisite the youth wants. Yet in 2009, two decades after being away, Meche returns to the city for the funeral of her father whom she never wanted to hear from ever since, and eventually runs into Sebastian, whom she swore never to see again. What was once home revived memories of her childhood that she thought—and wished—she forgot. So what happened back then?

Set against the backdrop of Mexico City and divided in two timelines, the novel participates in the usual magical realism discourse: the repercussions of too much power and the price of pride. The interesting title begins to manifest its purpose a few pages in: perhaps in simpler engineering terms, a signal-to-noise ratio is used to compare the desired power or signal with the unwanted source or noise. How far would these teenagers go for the power they wish to wield? And how grave shall the consequences be? With this, I thought the move was brilliant.

On the other hand, the author’s writing is nuanced and natural; the pace is reasonable, the characters’ personalities are rational despite their irrational behavior, and the dialogue is realistic. I was also amazed with how Silvia effortlessly switches from one limited point-of-view to another, making the reader understand both the characters’ thoughts and the situation they were in. The mysterious conflict was intriguing from beginning to end, and the protagonists’ relationship towards each other is not “sappy” as Silvia would call it (lol). Rather, it pragmatically depicts how love and friendship can be fixed or ruined by power (in literal and metaphorical sense).

Overall, I enjoyed reading it so much that I’d like to make a playlist of all the songs/artists/albums mentioned in the book (more so, I hope there’s already someone who did that). What a remarkable way to tell a story about nostalgia, especially on music!

Thank you Rebellion Publishing and Netgalley for making this delight possible.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

I started reading Silvia Moreno-Garcia's novels last year and I'm already a big fan, so you can imagine my exitement when I got the opportunity to read her debut novel in view of its new publication
Despite its style being different from the one I am used to - again, this is her debut and I read mostly her newest novels - it did not disappoint

The alternation between past and present, with scenes from pov of different characters and not only the Mc, Meche, was great and gave the reader the possibility to see various situations and the different ideas the characters had, with all of them believing to be in the right but then unknowlingly ruining the lives of the others (except for Daniela, she was a precious angel)
And it also captured the reader, who is soon curious to understand why and how Meche and Sebastián's changed so drastically considering how close they were in the flashbacks. Soon we enter in this particular relationship, who was complicated since the beginning but still worked because despite their differences they knew they couldn't live without the other. It was nice to see throughout the novel how despite every quarrel they had, when a real problem occured they were always ready to help each other. But it was also a bad relationship, in a certain way a toxic one, something that a good talk would have helped easing but they both were too stubborn to do that and really let down the guard, which I can totally understand considering they were fifteen (if you read Normal People by Sally Rooney then you know what I mean)

I'm glad Meche's character didn't change much throughout her life abroad and we got to see why she was like that and what events in her life brought her to be like that but also, in the end, her trying to understand more about other people around her, thanks to memories, old songs, old friendships and unfinished books. I guess she will always be the sort of bitchy friend whit harsh comments every now and then but I know that now she will try to be better for those who have always stayed with her and maybe remembering the relationship she had with her father and how clueless she were abouth his life wven tho she thought she knew everything. Her development was good and full of good premises, and I'm happy to know she got to live it alongside Sebastián again, with a more open mind (and heart)

One thing that didn't satisfy me enough though, was the magic in this novel and how it was presented. I wish the magic process had been analysed and explained more, it started a bit too fast and it seemed like they didn't question it enough, even tho lately in the novel we have some hints and "rules" from Meche's grandmother.

But despite everything, even if it is a bit rough in certain parts, I enjoyed the reading (and the pining) a lot and I recommend it fully

thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

signal to noise follows meche as she navigates friendships and familial relationships during two separate timelines.

the characters, especially meche and sebastian, are delightful to read about. in the flashback scenes, they are very much teenagers figuring out who they are and where they belong, whereas in the present-day scenes, they (especially meche) are young adults who still haven't quite come to terms with their pasts. the relationships in this book are definitely the strong suit. all of them are handled with care and seeing how these relationships have evolved over twenty years was realistic and nuanced.

the fantasy element was a bit underdeveloped for my liking and i would have liked to have learned more about magic from meche's grandma. i also found meche's corruption arc and the reason for the fallout to be rushed as compared to the rest of the book.

overall, signal to noise is a powerful coming-of-age magical realism novel that handles the complexities of friends and family well.

3.75 stars*

First off I want to say that I love this author and Mexican gothic is one of my favorite novels of all time but this book was missing elements that I love from this author, since it was her debut novel I’m not surprised as people learn and improve over time.

My main issues in this book were the characters and the “genre”. The characters to me all fell flat, I feel like their personalities weren’t devolved well and they just fit into odd stereotypes. I also couldn’t tell you the genre of this book, there was magic, romance, family struggles, revenge, music, and more and it just felt like too many boxes trying to be checked at once.

Overall though the story was nice, I liked the setting and I liked the characters enough I just wanted more from them. I still love this author and recommend all of her books!

This is a reprint of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s debut novel. We all know Moreno-Garcia can write well which is perhaps the only good thing about this book. The writing is vivid and atmospheric, and gives you a realistic Mexican feel. As for the plot, it was just breadcrumbs from a coming-of-age YA teenage friendship/love story mixed with magical realism. This might sound wholesome but it wasn’t. The story was a tedious exaggeration of a teenage love story which was stretched way too far to the point of a migraine. There was so much redundancy that it literally pained me to continue reading and I was on the verge of DNFing this book more times than I could count. The characters were under developed and annoying; the plot was flat and there was nothing happening. It was basically a pretty two dimensional picture of three kids in Mexico. No layers, no development, no depth.

I wanted to like this, and if this wasn’t written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I would’ve left this unfinished.

Thanks to Rebellion, Solaris and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

1.5/5🌟 (rounded up for the love of Silvia Moreno-Garcia).

Overall, I enjoyed the book but I just don’t feel like the ending was earned. The adult characters don’t really talk and nothing seems resolved at the end.

Signal to Noise reads like a TV series in all the best ways. Three teenaged friends discover they can perform magic to get the results they seek, even if the results don’t last forever.

The story spans over a decade as Meche returns to Mexico City to bury her father and happens to meet up with her high school friends Sebastián and Daniela.

The story rolls out in non-linear details volleying between now and then. And all of this weaves together with a vinyl soundtrack.

This might be my favorite Moreno-Garcia novel. Meche, Daniela, and Sebastian are great friends in high school and they begin to dabble in magic. Their magic is woven into songs on vinyl…and each thing they do has the perfect theme song.

The story is dual time lined; in the 80s and now-ish when Meche returns to Mexico upon the death of her father. It becomes clear quickly that there has been a disruption in the friendship of the high school friends, but the reader doesn’t get to see the full picture right away.

Coming -of-age and using classic magical themes, this book was well done by Moreno-Garcia. It is surprising to me that this was her first novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rebellion for the opportunity to read the ARC of this wonderful rerelease!

Signal To Noise was not in my favorite books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I really enjoyed the magic system and the unique take on music. I did not find the main character very likeable. Overall it was a quick and light read.

Thank you Netgalley and Rebellion Publishing for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review

i enjoyed the story in general, i feel like it was a bit underdeveloped in some ways, specially the setting, but i liked the magical realism and the characters. great cover change.

Silvia Morena-Garcia is one of those authors whom I will always pick up their books, regardless of how I felt about their previous ones. Her writing is some of my favorite and I love the worlds and novels she comes up with. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy "Velvet was the Night," the last one I read. I ended up rating it only 2 stars, so I was a bit apprehensive. However, I shouldn't have worried –– I really, really loved this book.

This novel is told from a dual perspective: 1988 and 2009. I think this model works really well for the development of the story and keeps the reader wanting to read more. When you're reading the 2009 section, you want to know why the characters are acting as they do and what happened in 1988 to make them that way, for example. It pushed the narrative forward and even though not too much happened over the course of the novel, it felt as if it had.

I also really enjoyed the magic system –– I thought it was super unique and meaningful to each of the individual characters. I loved how Garcia played on the idea of music having power because it absolutely does and she really highlights that in the book. I'm by no means a music expert and there were a lot of songs I didn't recognize but now I want to check them out!

Meche, the protagonist, is prickly and mean. I don't think that everyone is going to like her but I adored her. (Maybe I saw a bit too much of myself in her?) But she's a unique, refreshing protagonist and so complexly human. I loved seeing her journey throughout the course of the novel and how, even though she's changed over the 21 year gap, there are still some elements to her that were the same.

Beautiful storytelling. It was just right. Not too much, not too little. The ending was brilliant and put a smile on my face.
I did not want to stop reading, and I’m not a fan of the 3rd person POV what so ever. The flash backs were vital to the story, and are sure to capture and ensnare a reader’s attention from beginning to end.
I wanted to hug Meche, Sebos, y Daniela. Their journey is one I’m sure many will relate to.
First YA novel I read in some time, but I must say it is one that hits home. It also might be why the magic aspect went over my head. However, it was thrilling to read all the same.
Don’t usually have songs popping up to describe books, but I couldn’t help but think of Matilda x Harry Styles… just a teeny vibe though.
Overall great read and one for the shelf!

Signal to Noise is an intriguing take on realistic fantasy and coming of age story telling.

The writing is very spot on for Silvia Moreno Garcia. Slow to start, but quickly pulling in the reader and ending in a way that makes it impossible to put down for the second half of the book.

I loved the interesting take on music and how music and culture were blended together beautifully.

The use of time period changes/POV changes kept up the suspense in the two connected stories that were happening - the past and the present.

I did not find the main character Meche to be likable. In both adult and teen form, Meche was selfish and mean. Personally this made me more heavily invested in the other two characters, Sebastian and Daniela. And may have contributed to my never ending love for Sebastian. In terms of characters, the tension the slowly built between Sebastian and Meche was very well done and highly interesting.

Some of the phrasing was a bit confusing. Specifically in terms of some of the more action packed sequences. It had me rereading and hoping I was getting the imagery correct.

Overall, would I recommend? Yes, to a specific reader, not everyone.

Do I still want to read everything from this author? Fudge yes!

I loved the last book this author did and this one didn’t disappoint. Definitely had all the elements I was looking for in a book. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone

Signal to Noise is a historical fiction novel set in Mexico City in 1989 and 2009.

In 1989 Meche spent her days attending school and listening to music with her friends
Sebastían and Daniela, but in 2009 things are very different. Long gone are the days when they spent their days making magic with music and instead, Meche is back home for her estranged father’s funeral.

The story was okay, it is a cute story about friendship and magic on one side and strangers reconnecting on the other. I think that this book does a beautiful job of showing what Mexico really is like. Even though I wasn’t a kid in Mexico in the 80s I could still feel nostalgia for my childhood. There were also things like having “Honores a la Bandera” every Monday morning at school, eating candy like Pelon Pelonrico, bands like Mecano, and Timbiriche, artists like Luismi, and other songs mentioned in the story that made me feel all warm inside as I grew up listening to them because of my parents.

I had a few issues with this book, mainly with the main character, Meche, I understand that she is 15 but even as an adult I found her barely tolerable at times. The plot was also explained more than shown and we don’t know what happened in those 20 years. It’s glossed over but not explained fully, which I wish it were as it would’ve added more depth to the story.

If you are looking for a light fun read with light magical elements this is a great choice.

Signal to Noise will be published on September 13th.

Thank you Netgalley and Rebellion Publishing for sending me an Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I can't believe this is the author's debut novel.
It felt so magical and wistful!
The author perfectly captures a realistic teenage voice, which includes all of the optimism and confusion and annoying traits that all teenagers have.
The best part?????? Music !! I loved how the author has integrated it into the storyline <3

Signal to Noise follows Meche and her two friends as they discover magic and begin to harness it to bend the rules to their own will. The story alternates from 1988 when they were teens using magic, to 2009, twenty years after an abrupt end to their friendship, when Meche returns home to Mexico City for her fathers funeral.

I’ve read some of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s other works and really enjoyed them, and while I thought this was good, I was a bit disappointed by it. I could definitely feel in the story and writing that this was her first novel. The writing was not bad by any means but coming from her later works, I could see how much she had developed since writing this. The future pov didn’t add much to the story in my opinion, and honestly I think could’ve been cut out completely, as well as the romance between Meche and Sebastián. The two characters lacked the chemistry that I think they were supposed to have. In the end when they revealed that they had been in love with each other the entire time, I did not buy it at all. While I was reading this I found that not much happened for a majority of the book, it is almost 400 pages yet it doesn’t get very interesting until the last hundred pages. When it does finally get a bit interesting at the climax of the story, it ends. It ends fairly abruptly, leaving it feel almost unfinished. The climax felt like it should’ve just been the beginning of the action but was actually the end, which was quite disappointing.

Still, there is a lot about the book that I can appreciate. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is excellent at capturing an atmosphere, and the 80s Mexico City setting was very cool. The scenes that followed the characters wandering the city were great and I really wish there were more of them. The characters, particularly Meche, had so much personality and the parts where they were all hanging out and just being teenagers were very enjoyable. They made dumb choices with dumb motivations, and were occasionally mean to each other, but it felt like real dumb teenagers. Lastly, the magic and how it was harnessed was so unique and fit the setting of the story so well and I thought it was well done.

Overall, I didn’t love this book and wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to everyone, but I think it is still worth checking out for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I also think the story of teenagers using magic in the late 80s could be appealing to fans of Stranger Things or The Craft, so if that’s you, maybe give it a try. I gave this a 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Like all of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books, this is a deep and complex novel. It's intricately plotted. It takes place in the 80s, It is part coming-of-age story mixed with romance, morally gray characters and supernatural magic, It's about a fifteen girl who can cast magic spells using vinyl records in 1988 and who is returning to Mexico City two decades later as a grown woman for her father’s funeral. It's an interesting concept. A great book!

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

I first fell in love with the writing of Silvia Moreno Garcia in 2015 when I read Signal To Noise. Since then, she has blown up in much deserved popularity (The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, Velvet Was the Night, Mexican Gothic). Rebelion books has reissued her debut novel and I am recommending it here !

In Signal To Noise we meet Meche (Mercedes) and her two outcast friends living in Mexico City and attending private school in the 1980's. When Meche discovers her power to cast spells via vinyl records, the fun begins! There is a bit of YA unrequited and mismatched love, a bit of revenge and of course supernatural flavors. As many debuts, there is a bit more of the "tell" than the "show" but this novel still spoke to me. Much like the mixed tapes of the 80's there truly wasn't a lot of international literature available to a willing reader and I ate up the descriptions of Mexico City. If you are a Sylvia Moreno- Garcia fan , Mexico City fan, or just love YA love stories with a twist, then Signal to Noise is for you!
#SilviaMorenoGarcia #SignalToNoise #RebellionPublishing

~Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review~
A whimsical coming-of-age story about a 15-year-old girl growing up in Mexico City as she discovers love, friendship, and, above all, magic. The banter in this story was AMAZING, especially between our main character, Meche, and her best-friend Sebastian. I loved that the duel timelines of this narrative gave the reader a sneak peek into Meche's future and that the changing of POVs (despite how many there were) gave the reader a new and necessary perspective into Meche's story. While I wish the magic that Meche and her friends discovered was better explained and utilized throughout the story, I can't deny how magnetic this story and its characters were, so much so that I devoured this book in a day! This was a great introduction to Silvia Moreno-Garcia and I can't wait to explore more of her works!