Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Yonah and Devorah's Travelling Music Theater!

This book is a heartfelt and beautifully written story that blends music, history, and self-discovery into a captivating journey. Suze Leonie’s prose is lyrical, evoking a deep sense of atmosphere and emotion. The novel transports readers into a world where music is not just performance—it’s a lifeline, a means of connection, and a way to navigate the complexities of identity and belonging.

The characters are richly drawn, and their relationships feel authentic, layered with both tenderness and tension. Yonah and Devorah’s dynamic is particularly compelling, with moments of quiet understanding and unspoken longing that pull at the heart. Some of my favourite lines included:

✨ "Music carries us forward, even when the world tells us to stand still."
✨ "Every note was a promise, every song a story waiting to be told."

While the novel shines in its poetic storytelling and emotional depth, the pacing occasionally felt uneven, with certain sections lingering longer than necessary. However, the immersive writing and moving themes more than made up for it.

Overall, Yonah and Devorah’s Travelling Music Theater is a beautifully composed novel that will resonate with readers who love historical fiction infused with artistry and heart. A truly memorable read!

When antihero Eli makes a seemingly innocent drunken mistake, it leaves him with a loudly grieving doll named Devorah, and he must choose: hide her away, or overcome his fear and help Devorah find Yonah, the doll’s long-lost love? Eli’s mental illness, insecurity, and general disdain for other human beings result in some strong character flaws: selfishness, cynicism, awkwardness, pretentiousness, countless phobias, and even cruelty at times. Yet, Eli is Devorah’s only hope in finding Yonah. But how can someone who already dislikes humans so much go out of his way to help, not even another human, but a doll?

Eli’s resistance and Devorah’s creepy insistence get things moving, but then I found the last third of the book super rushed. It wrapped up so quickly that it felt almost unnecessary to have so much build-up in the beginning for how and if Eli will help Devorah. That said, this is still a solid read and it’s a quick one, too! I liked learning about barrel organs and imagining Eli’s pieces of artwork that are described really well in the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Fidessa Literary for the read!

Read this courtesy of Net Galley

Found the story took a while to get its legs but once it did I was glued to the page
While I did hate the main character's attitude, I still felt compelled to find what would happen to Eli next, especially since I found Devorah just as frustrating due to the fact I too value my personal space.
Eli gradually warming up to Devorah was exceptionally entertaining.
I loved Eli and Alain's relationship, I particularly enjoyed Eli being forced to the Montmartre club by his gran's chosen family.
The message to not forget about the people who love you, that is not to take your family for granted, which is something I think we could all do with remembering more often.
The end was the best part, the way it mirrored the beginning but instead of Eli hiding from his problems he asks for help.
All in all the book grew on me

This was unexpected ... somewhat delightful, but more so off-putting.

I thought this was a fantasy, but the story boils down to mental illness, the tired "is it magic or is it a hallucination?" kind. The lead character is so unlikable: hates everyone for no reason, is rabidly bipolar, a total stereotype but also triggering for me, as it got me thinking about the few people I've known who've suffered from this illness, including one that was an admitted sociopath ... and with Eli's thought patterns here, it was a bit too close to reality for me, even while I recognized that it was an overwrought caricature. I was hoping for growth by the end of it, but since Eli's so disconnected from himself, and doesn't make much headway without the intervention of others, I found the ending unsatisfying. I can imagine him going back to his habits the next day.

I'm not sure what story was being told here, either. Two star-crossed dolls of Eli's imagination ... both as overwrought as Eli, crying and moaning hysterically ... and Eli must reunite them. But since this is all in Eli's head, the real point of the story is ... is ... what? Mentally ill people are worthy and creative, no matter how badly they('re portrayed as) treat(ing) others, no matter how much they're (portrayed as being) self-centred ... I guess?

The only empathy I had was for the supporting cast, notably Eli's handler and sister, who Eli barely acknowledges and regularly complains about.

Sorry, but this just made me angry more than anything. I rushed to get through it. I felt letdown.