Night Music
Jenn Marie Thorne
Summary: Ruby has always been Ruby Chertok future classical pianist, heir to the Chertok family legacy, daughter of renowned composer Martin Chertok. But after bungling her audition for the prestigious Amberley School of Music--where her father is on faculty--Ruby is suddenly just . . . Ruby. And who is that again? All she knows is that she wants out of the orbit of her relentlessly impressive family, and away from the world of classical music for good. Yes? Yes.
Oscar is a wunderkind, a musical genius. Just ask any of the 1.8 million people who've watched him conduct his own compositions on YouTube--or hey, just ask Oscar. But while he might be the type who'd name himself when asked about his favorite composer and somehow make you love him more for it, Oscar is not the type to jeopardize his chance to study under the great Martin Chertok--not for a crush. He's all too aware of how the ultra-privileged, ultra-white world of classical music might interpret a black guy like him falling for his benefactor's white daughter. Right? Right.
But as the New York City summer heats up, so does the spark between Ruby and Oscar. Soon their connection crackles with the same alive, uncontainable energy as the city itself. But can two people still figuring themselves out figure out how to be together? Or will the world make the choice for them?
My Review: This story was absolutely gorgeous. It's perfect for anyone wanting a peek into the NYC high life that we see in Gossip Girl, or if you love music, headstrong characters who choose to define themselves outside of the expectations placed on them, and a family drama (it had shades of The Nest in some places). Jenn Marie Thorne was able to perfectly capture the beauty of a summer in New York, this book felt like all the best parts of Taylor Swift's 1989 album, and Thorne writes with so much intimacy that I felt like I was walking the New York streets with Ruby and Oscar. It was a book I didn't want to leave.
Recommended age: 15+ (some language and sexual situations)
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