My review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is set both in Mexico City in 1988 and in 2009 and has Meche dealing with her father's death, and flashes back to 1988 for what's led to this situation.

I really enjoyed the friendships shown in 1988, and how they've changed as adults. It's atmospheric and has a lot of music references.

I liked the story, and I was drawn on, wanting to know what had happened.

This is by the same author as Mexican Gothic, and was her debut novel, which has been re-released.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Rebellion.

I ended up DNFing this book. It just was not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

I found Signal to Noise to just miss the mark a little for me. It is a well-written book, but I struggled to emotionally connect to the characters, and the premise wasn't something that resonated much with me. Despite this, I'm rating it highly because I truly believe this will be someone's next favourite book - it just wasn't for me. I really enjoy Moreno-Garcia's work and can't wait to find the one that captivates me.

"...she thought about what he'd said about happiness. Steal it if you must. Meche was willing. But that bitch, happiness, wasn't being very cooperative."

Meche and Sebastián are outcasts at their high school in Mexico City. In 1988, Meche discovers that her connection to music gives her an avenue to use magic her grandmother once crafted with needle and thread. By choosing the right vinyl, Meche can direct spells to do her will. The power grows in strength as she loops in Sebastián and their friend Daniela. While they are skeptical at first, Meche's strength of conviction and take-charge ways wear them down. When they feel and see the power for themselves, a fresh circle of witches is formed. Along this journey seeking the many things teenagers and even all humans want-- power, acceptance, comfort, and connection-- their friendships combust. In the present, Meche returns home after the death of her father, wanting nothing to do with her erstwhile friends. Grudges run deep for Meche, and dual timelines show readers what all went down in the 80s and how Meche processes her return home in the present.

There are some content warnings worth mentioning. Expect intense bullying on the page, homophobia, physical violence, attempted sexual assault, and the death of a parent. It's an intense book borne of intense feelings and the general traumas of being alive, especially but not limited to the teenage years. And let me be honest, I don't have a lot of emotional space for unflinching stories about the pains of growing up. I don't like dwelling on the fictional cruelties of teenagers when I have so many I'm responsible for and want to see succeed in the real world. The book is in some ways young adult in topic but not in approach. So you get all the cringe without the mitigating soft touch that celebrates that era of life.

In the 80s, some of the characters' ill-advised or poorly executed choices caused me a lot of secondhand stress. All three teenagers experience ill-fated crushes with brutal consequences. An unheeded warning unfurls minute by excruciating minute. And eventually, the three diverge in their opinions about power and how it ought to be wielded.

In the present, there are elements of second-chance romance that build on the drama we see in the past timeline. Meche and Sebastián fight their feelings for each other in their youth as a matter of obliviousness, fear of changing their friendship, and aspirations for dating someone hot and popular. This confusion of feelings results in cruelties both intended and not, miscommunication, and lashing out only to boomerang back to one another. In the present, burned bridges stand between them. In striving for a more literary rather than genre experience, the book skips some of the serious emotional work you would see in a romance novel, opting to keep things spare and interpretative. I can recognize the craft without enjoying the experience. It lacks the growth arc a romance novel would offer to see how our characters have changed to make a new opportunity for love worth it. Both characters are sympathetic but unlikeable in a way I respect. Again, this seems a symptom of the type of book.

Signal to Noise wasn't for me on several fronts. However, I think many types of readers will love it. People who enjoy grounded, realistic fantasy should pick it up. Fans of an eyes-wide-open examination of the teenage experience may also want to read this gritty take on an 80s coming-of-age tale. Music lovers will also appreciate Meche's passion, which permeates the story. Thanks to Rebellion for my copy to read and review!

Not my favorite from Moreno-Garcia, but interesting as always. I think I prefer her more historical works to the contemporary ones.

I was really starting to think maybe I don't actually like Moreno-Garcia's work as much as I thought I do - but this one sort of redeemed her. I don't know as if I'll enjoy any of them as much as I liked Mexican Gothic, but Signal to Noise was heartfelt, heart-wrenching, and well written.
I am, however, starting to feel as though she can only create a small set of character archetypes...all her leading women are the same cold, self-deprecating sort, and all her men the bleeding hearts. This novel, having just read her newest recently, feels achingly similar to Silver Nitrate. However, I prefer this one by far.
I can't decide whether I'll continue to read her books...they're so hit or miss for me, time and time again.

I gave this a one out of five stars. I didn’t like this I didn’t care for the characters or what happened to them.

I’m giving 4 stars because I found it hard to get into the story but afterwards I raced through Signal to Noise.

Funny how one minute I liked Meche just to hate her one paragraph later. She is a horrible and selfish person but as the story goes on and the reader gets to know her better, more and more of her decesions start to make sense. Or not in some cases. She is a teenager after all.

The story could’ve used more explanation on the magic system and how it works. But maybe it was intentional, so it would seem like anyone could be capable of doing magic if they have strong enough intentions. Hmm…hy not?

On to the next Silvia Moreno-Garcia book because she has really unique ideas and an amazing way with words.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.

I really liked the premise of this one but Injust feel like it's one I'm sadly never going to get around to picking this one up.

I'm so sorry!

I feel a little indifferent about this one. I didn’t hate it, but I’ll probably forget it. The characters are flat, and it feels a bit boring in the middle.

This beautiful was magical and very nostalgic. It was a unique coming of age story blended with life as an adult finding themselves, which are typically not my thing. But this one kept me interested and engaged without feeling too precious or unrelatable.

If you are a lover music in particular, I think you will connect with this.

This was such an interesting and incredible read, there was such depth and intrigue. I found myself completely entranced by the story.

I tried to read this several times in several formats. Some of Moreno-Garcia's books just arent for me and, sadly, this one will be added to that list.

Another epic story by Silvia Moreno Garcia, who has become an icon for our times. There’s something reverential about the way she depicts characters that makes reading her books feel like picking up a diary. Her characters feel real in a way that most never do. I love her directness and wit in her writing, and I especially love the times in which she sets her books—always an interesting era.

This book had great characterization, excellent story telling, and made me want to keep reading. I will continue to read from this author and look out for their new releases.

This book was soo good. The main character was incredibly relatable and the world building was incredible. I’ve loved every book by Silvia and can’t wait to read more

amazing. silvia moreno-garcia is just !!! what an incredible book to add to the great collection. i just love her mind!

- thanks to netgalley & the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I spent most of this book, a reprint of an early novel by Silvia Morena-Garcia, loathing the central character. The story bounces back and forth between “the past” (1988) and “the present” (2009), and the adventures of Meche (short for Mercedes, which she loathes) and her two best friends, Sebastián and Diana. The three were misfits in high school, each with their own family dramas and challenges. Mecha’s definitely the leader of the group, and she’s endlessly sarcastic, demanding, and miserly in her friendship. Her alcoholic father is a radio DJ and aspiring music historian, obsessed with vinyl records. Almost by accident, Meche discovers that by wishing hard enough while playing a specific record, she can make things happen. Soon she’s roped her friends into a magical circle, searching for especially potent songs and practicing increasingly dark acts of magic. In the present, she’s returned home for her father’s funeral, reliving the past as she packs up his papers and record collection.

I really wish Meche had been a more sympathetic character or that the turning point in her descent into magical violence had been more clear. I cared more about awkward, earnest Sebastián with his long-time, unspoken crush on Meche, and loyal Diana with her fussy dresses, Easy-Bake oven, and lupus diagnosis. Sebastián and Diana each had a moral compass but not enough courage to stand up to Meche. Even so, the story caught me up and kept me turning pages. This is an early work, and the author has matured greatly. I like her later characters a lot better, particularly those in Mexican Gothic, The Beautiful Ones, and Gods of Jade and Shadow.

I an a HUGE fan of Silvia MG so I went into this one bling. Just like her other books, this coming of age story is beautifully written and be tu atmospheric.
It represented all the raw emotions of a teenager and made me feel very nostalgic. I also really appreciated the MC’s personality. She’s a bit prickly but remains true to herself, and I find it more realistic when characters are grey and not black nor white.

Great book

A trio of teens in 1980s Mexico City discover they can cast spells through music, but decades later aren't speaking to each other when Meche--the ringleader of their group--returns to Mexico for her estranged father's funeral. I really enjoyed the atmospheric descriptions of place / setting and all the 80s nostalgia (despite being a 90s baby myself), but the book seemed to struggle with whether it was YA or adult. It's definitely adult due to the language and content, to be clear, but because most of the story takes place when the protagonists are teens in the 80s--as well as the writing and tone--it felt more YA to me. I don't mean that as an insult either, but I do think the lack of clear age / audience target made the story feel a bit off to me.

There was a lot to enjoy, but also a lot that left me wanting, including the repeated us of the F slur to bully a straight male character. I know that was common at the time but it felt gratuitous, especially since there are no actual LGBTQ characters and the homophobia is never really dealt with. I also was really intrigued by the idea of the music being used as magic in the story, but wanted it to be explored a bit more thoroughly I think. Maybe that's a me problem, since this book was more about relationships and taking ownership of your mistakes than about that fantasy elements, but still.