This Song Is (Not) For You

Gentle, sweet, pure, emotional.

As soon as I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. It sounded interesting and fascinating and unique. I was incredibly excited, and so it was very disheartening when it wasn’t everything that I’d hoped it would be. Which, I understand, is entirely my fault and no one else’s. I still enjoyed this book and am very glad that I took the time to read it but it just wasn’t the book that I had wanted it to be. I would definitely still recommend it to others, especially if you’re after an interesting, unique book but with a warning that it’s not as deep as you may hope it to be.This book is about a very different kind of relationship trio and that is what makes it unique and intriguing. But, unfortunately, for me, this relationship felt like it was constructed and not organic which made it that little bit harder to read. It felt circumstantial and used mostly as a plot point and nothing more. There was an interesting dynamic between the characters and I still thought it was quite addictive to read, it just didn’t feel completely right to me. And I have nothing against that kind of relationship happening in real life, it just felt too put together for the book. Which is a shame but I still think it’s good that the dynamic was used in the first place.There were three main characters in this story but I am going to struggle to tell you my favourite. While they all have unique and wonderful personalities that made them who they were, I didn’t feel able to truly connect with any of them. They felt light and simplistic, and everything just seemed to fall so easily in their lives, which is just another aspect of this book that I struggled with. I think that Ramona was probably the character I connected with the most. She’s fiery and passionate and knows what she wants; the kind of person that I really hope to one day be. But none of the characters really spoke to me, and that is probably half the battle with this book, unfortunately.I wanted to fall in love with this book. I wanted to love the words and the characters and feel like it was a magical and wonderful book. So I definitely think I put too much pressure on the book. I did like this book. It was interesting and unique to read, quick and easy too. But I was hoping for a book with depth, one that explored the relationship further but this book was light and fluffy, and I’m really not a light and fluffy person. So all in all, this book is worth a read but it just wasn’t a book that took my breath away.

I originally requested This Song Is (Not) For You by Laura Nowlin from NetGalley because I thought Ramona's situation sounded like a really awkward one to be in, and would make a really interesting book. But it went from one I was mildly interested in to one I definitely had to read when it was praised on Twitter for having an asexual main character, and it was such a fascinating read.Ramona and Sam have been friends for years after bonding over their passion for music. They're inseparable, and both have feelings for each other, but are certain the other is not interested. When they meet Tom at a music college, they know they've found the final piece for their band, and the three soon become very close friends. But it's not long before Ramona starts falling for Tom - while she's still in love with Sam. Tom seems to be interested in her too, and as Ramona knows nothing will happen with Sam, she and Tom start dating. The three spend almost all their spare time together, and seeing Ramona and Tom together is so painful for Sam. But there's something about Tom that neither of them know.What I found really strange about This Song Is (Not) For You is how much I enjoyed it considering how little I connected with the characters. Each of the three characters narrate alternately, and it's the kind of book you fly through, but the pacing means that months go by in a flash. There's something about these characters that felt different; I can't say we don't really get to know them, because we do, and I don't dislike them, but I didn't warm to any of them, either. I just didn't get emotionally involved in this book. But I still enjoyed it, and was gripped by their story.I wasn't too interested in the music element of the book; they don't play my kind of music, it's kind of experimental, I guess, and just not something I'm interested in. But even if it was, I still think the relationships between all three characters would have been the major pull for me. This is the first YA novel I've come across where a character is genuinely in love with two people at once, without there being some kind of magical reason as to why. Granted, I didn't feel that love, the development of the relationships was kind of lacking for me, but from the way the story was written it's clear that this is love that Ramona feels for Sam and Tom, and not just a crush or intense infatuation. She's actually in love with them both. Which is a difficult situation to be in; even if she ends up with Tom, she's not with Sam, and she can't just turn off her feelings. And it's even more awkward and kind of tragic when the reader knows that Sam is in love with Ramona, too. As I said, I didn't make the emotional connection that I wanted, but there were moments when Sam talks about his feelings for Ramona and unrequited love (we know it's not, but as far as he's concerned, it is) that were really beautiful, moments I could relate to.Tom was a fascinating character, and one I loved being inside the head of. I was celebrating whenever he discussed his feelings regarding sex. Tom is asexual. The word is never used in the book, but he discusses a few times his lack of sexual feeling and complete disinterest in sex. His ex-girlfriend broke up with him because she thought he was gay and in denial, because he never showed any interest in going further than kissing, despite his claims that he simply just didn't want to have sex. We have very few asexual characters in YA, and so far, I've only read one other book with an asexual character - Quicksilver by R. J. Anderson. What's wonderful about This Song Is (Not) For You is that it shows an asexual character who falls in love. I'd be interested to know if any of the other ace YA books published show this, but it was great to see Tom wanting and enjoying a romantic relationship, but not wanting a sexual one.This Song Is (Not) For You is a really fascinating, gripping and eye-opening novel, and despite my lack of emotional connection, one I would highly recommend.