Ali Collins was a child prodigy destined to become one of the greatest musicians of the twenty-first centuryuntil she was diagnosed with a life-changing brain tumor. Now, at seventeen, Ali lives in a soundless world where she gets by with American Sign Language and lip-reading. She’s a constant disappointment to her father, a retired cop fighting his own demons, and the bruises are getting harder to hide.
When Ali accidentally wins a backstage tour with the chart-topping band Tone Deaf, she’s swept back into the world of music. Jace Beckett, the nineteen-year-old lead singer of the band, has a reputation. He’s a jerk and a player, and Ali wants nothing to do with him. But there’s more to Jace than the tabloids let on. When Jace notices Ali’s bruises and offers to help her escape to New York, Ali can’t turn down the chance at freedom and a fresh start. Soon she’s traveling cross-country, hidden away in Jace’s RV as the band finishes their nationwide tour. With the help of Jace, Ali sets out to reboot her life and rediscover the music she once loved.
Ali was a reminder of Jace's past life, but when he realized she was stuck in an abusive situation, he was compelled to help her escape. A connection was born from their shared pain, and having someone, who could fully relate, helped both characters find some solace.
I really enjoyed being part of Ali's escape plan. I was a big fan of this setup. Former musical prodigy escapes her abusive home life by going on tour with a popular band. Sounded like a lot of fun, and there were some really humorous moments, but there were also a lot of really meaningful moments too. Rivers did a nice job creating characters I liked and could feel empathy for, but I wish she had explored Ali's backstory a little more, because it was a really great one. The ending felt a bit rushed for me, but I did get an epilogue, and it was a good one.
Though I wanted a little more, I greatly enjoyed this book, and more or less, devoured it.
