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The Lillys #2

e-ARC and ALC 

Author: Xio Axelrod

Narrator: Tyla Collier and Benjamin Charles

All her life, Kayla Whitman has lived under the pressure of being “the perfect little girl”… but now she found her groove beating the drums in an all girl group, The Lillys. There, under an alias, she’s no longer her mother’s daughter, the inspiration for children’s books. She’s loud and wild and free. She’s made her own little family with the band. Everything is going her way while they are playing local gigs, but they are getting bigger and pretty soon she won’t be able to keep her lives separate. She finds solace in her kinship with the bus driver for their tour: Ty Baldwin. He’s like no one she’s ever met before and their connection is immediate and intense. He’s a bookworm, a poet and a sight for sore eyes. 

As their fame grows, the press starts to sniff secrets, Kayla’s and Ty’s. Will she be able to pursue her dream or have to give it all up? Will there be room for Ty in her life?

In the same vein of The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes, we get a backstage pass to the life of a band on the verge of breaking big. 

I loved every single character in this book and I loved how Xio Axelrod veered away from clichés. Yes, her mother is domineering but she’s not portrayed as a villain. Yes, Ty has a past he hides but he doesn’t play the victim. We hope he gets justice for what was done to him and it’s heartbreaking to understand why he’s just tired to fight back. Their romance is sweet and slow. And it’s fun to follow the band on tour. 

Narrated by Tyla Collier and Benjamin Charles. Tyla is new to me and she impressed me with how unique she made each character sound! Benjamin Charles has that honey voice that’s just perfect for the lovely Ty.

Rep: black MCs and author. Non gender-conforming MCs

Possible triggers: mentions of loss of loved ones, systemic racism, estranged relationship with a parent