I get the feeling Mary Amato had the concept for Guitar Notes in her head when she started writing and knew how she wanted to end things, but didn't have a specific plot in mind. That's the only way I can explain how this book doesn't go anywhere until the plot finally falls off a cliff towards the end. I mean, the majority of this book's a pretty sweet story of a slow friendship between two very different people, but there's no movement to it really, and when there finally is, I'm wondering wha More...

3,5 stars

In this book two high school students who don't really know each other are brought together because of their love for music.For the main part this book was a surprisingly funny, entertaining, enjoyable and light read. The other (luckily rather short) remaining part is just a shame and bad choice of twist in the story.

Lyla is (for outsiders) the perfect girl who plays the cello effortless. She started playing after the death of her mom. Lyla is extremely talented but pushed by her fathe More...

Review also posted at Ja čitam, a ti?

I'm weak! But before I tell you why I should start from beginning. Ha! Nope I'm not teasing. Beginning meaning the blurb cause I simply love it. I'm that one person who always complains how blurbs reveal to much but this one is perfect it has enough info to get you interested in the book but still doesn't tell you anything at the same time.

Now I'm coming to that me-weak part. Yeah I really am, cause it doesn't take much (for a book at least) to go under my s More...

To any music lover, the title sounds appealing and most of the descriptions you read just reiterate that feeling. This book focuses on two young people who live for the music they make. Two brilliant, outstanding, troubled kids. Both have their own issues to deal with and as they come together to rediscover their love for music, they also help one another overcome these problems.
At the beginning, it’s clear that the two protagonists are as different as two people can be but as the story progres More...

Lyla, a classical cellist, and Tripp, a self-taught guitarist, have to share a practice room at school. Lyla, who has been on the fast track to success, is dealing with anxiety issues and while keeping up a good public face, is starting to feel panicky alot when she is alone. Tripp's father died unexpectedly when he was in sixth grade, and his best friend moved away at the same time, and he has found guitar to be his only companion. His mother takes the guitar away when his grades slip, and he a More...

I found Guitar Notes on the library ebook downloads, and thought the summary sounded interesting, so I decided to give it a shot. The book was a very quick and easy read. I read it in about 4 hours total, I think – less than one day. The chapters move very quickly, especially in the beginning as Tripp and Layla are establishing their connection. From the beginning, however author Mara Amato traps you into their world. Tripp is kind of a sad fellow, but as you read you find out that he has many r More...

I loved this book. I saw it on the new book truck at the library and decided to give it a try. At first glance, the two main characters, Tripp Broody and Lyla Marks, seems to have nothing in common. Tripp is not a very good student, has no set plans for his future, and thinks of his mother as a termite. The one positive characteristic Tripp does have is knowing and seemingly feeling comfortable with who he is. Lyla is a serious cello player, gets good grades, joins clubs with her domineering fri More...

3.5 stars - I really wish GR had half stars. (Rolling Credit Song: Sum 41's "With Me")

WHAT THE HELL?!? I would have given this book five stars had it not been for the end.

The book started off really, really strong for a cute, light read. I'm not usually a fan of short, choppy transitions, but for some reason, it worked in this book. I thought Amato did a great job switching between Tripp's and Lyla's points of view, and the abrupt flow kind of reflected their quick, snappish responses to each ot More...

3.5 Stars

I really enjoyed read this book. It was quick and light read, the story was sweet and witty. Actually, Tripp’s mom’s letter captured my eyes and made me curious about the story.

Dear Tripp,
I know you’re going to be mad at me, but you didn’t keep up your end of the bargain. You didn’t do your summer reading or math packet. You didn’t do anything but lock yourself in this room and play the guitar. It’s like you’re addicted to it. It’s unhealthy and isolating. You are capable of getting str More...

I have so many "currently-reading" books on my shelves (yes, I'm greedy ^^), so I read a few pages of this and a few pages of that, looking which one is hooked me on their few first pages. And this book did it!

The story started with light, charming and cute,about two different high school student. Trippy Broody; Mr. Odd, the guitarist, his mom first message when he start his new semester was try to make a friend. Lyla Marks; Ms. Even, the cellist,the straight A & the popular girl, but not so More...

Enchanting, insightful and delightful.

Full of wittisicms, laugh out loud moments and sadness.

Seeing the way young Tripp and Lyla's minds work - what an experience. Boy oh boy, young ones are something else. A species on their own and Ms Amato captures it perfectly: how wise and yet so naive they are, their frustrations and joy. Ahh, the list is long....

I dont have a musical bone in my body yet every note in this story got to me. Then there are the little handwritten notes, words, feelings. Exce More...

its 3.5 Stars

Guitar Notes was exceptionally funny and witty. Its well written. I loved the style Amato used to tell her story.
It would have been a 5star book up to about 80%of the story. Then it suddenly took a turn, which I really didnt care for and I was left startled at the end.
I have been thinking what put me off about the story line and still cant quite put my finger on it. But somehow it feels like there are two books somehow put together or like there isnt a clear thread through the book. More...

Firstly, the summary for this book is pretty short but sums up really what does happen in Guitar Notes. This book is about a friendship about a seemingly perfect girl and lonely misunderstood boy.. and that's about it.

Usually in novels where you have opposites forming a friendship (which tends to evolve into romance I've noticed) there is some sort of big pressure from close ones or dramatic event that puts a big ol' strain on the friendship/romance which happens around the middle of the book. I More...

3.5 Stars

Amato's writing style is incredible and itenthralledme until the very end. When I first read the synopsis of this book, I thought it would be a very cute, but stereotypical, music-themed love. As I got pulled into the story, Amato surprised me at every turn.

The beginning was well written and the characters seemed rock-solid. I loved that even though their personalities were so different and each had his/her own problem, they were able to connect through their music. Amato is a genius at More...

Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. Closer to 4, I think.

It was an easy, breezy read (in a good way) and I really liked how fully fleshed out / strongly developed the two main characters were.

I wasn't *emotionally* engaged until the last 50 or so pages, but in fairness, at the end I was crying a lot.

The parents were the antagonists, and fairly one-dimensional, which I'm kind of sick of... but I can forgive that. (If so many other books weren't doing that, and poorly, then it probably wouldn't have More...

Synopsis:

A heartwarming story about an unlikely friendship forged between a straight-A, classical musician and a bad-boy guitar player told through notes, lyrics, texts, and narration.

My Review:

Guitar Notes is a refreshing story about blossoming friendship and love for music, about choices and its effects on you and around you.

WARNING
If you haven't read the book please don't go ahead and read ....huge spoiler alert....
(view spoiler)[

oooooooh here meets miss Perfect with the bad boy musician :D( just throug (hide spoiler)] More...

What Drew Me to This Book?

Music. I love music. My music tastes range from heavy metal to classical and most points in-between. Hand me a book that features two extremes of the medium, throw in characters with opposite personalities and I’m hooked.

Synopsis taken from book:

On odd days, Tripp Broody uses a school practice room to let loose on a borrowed guitar. Eyes closed, strumming that beat-up instrument, Tripp escapes to a world where only the music matters.

On even days, Lyla Marks uses the s

More...

When it comes to books, I'm pretty easy to please. This book is an exception. I was beyond pleased, this should be worth more than five stars I was halfway finished before I checked it out from the library and finished it later that day. I didn't need vampires flying around for me to get so into this book, I loved it and its simplicity.

Lyla, who is called Even due to her even days in the music practice room and Tripp is called odd by Lyla due to his odd days. Just the names they call each other More...

Magen says: This was an adorable, quick young adult read. I found the two main characters' interactions to be very entertaining. Tripp's snarky notes, left behind for Lyla to find in the practice room they share on alternating days, had me laughing out loud more than once. Some of his observations reminded me of John Green's writing (which is a good thing). Songwriting was an integral part of the story, and just as I was starting to wish the book came with a soundtrack, I was delighted to find t More...

Lyla Marks is one of those practically perfect girls--straight A student and an amazing cellist. Tripp Broody is a guitarist who is failing his classes. When the two are assigned to share a music practice room, Lyla on even days and Tripp on odd days, they initially irritate each other. However, as they leave notes for each other in the room, at first expressing that irritation but then genuinely getting to know each other, they find that they manage to bring out the best in each other--and in o More...

My cheeks are hurting for smiling all the time. Yes, this book is that sweet. I love how the friendship starts, the exchange of little notes (view spoiler)[ Mr Odd and Ms Even! It's so adorable let me die now (hide spoiler)], how Tripp makes Lyla face things she keep trying to hide away from, the songwriting.

Man, I love everything.

I think the description of "bad boy" doesn't really do Tripp any justice. He's not a bad boy at all, he doesn't do bad boy things, he's just a boy who likes nothing else than to sit in his room a More...

Guitar Notes
by Mary Amato
314 pages
Publisher: EgmontUSA (7/24/12)
downloaded from the local library
5 STARS

Tripp Broody is not a bad kid. He's not even apathetic. He has simply allowed himself one love, his guitar. As a result, his mother decides he needs more in life and takes his love away. Lyla Marks lies nonstop, but not the way you're thinking. Lyla doesn't want to disappoint the people she cares about, so she pretends. She plasters on smiles and offers the right words. She plays her cello per More...

Love the story of the high school kids and how they take charge of their lives. This book for teens is a reminder for me as a parent that we can't protect our kids from everything and sometimes it's not even a good idea to try. Parents can be obstacles to their kids' efforts to become who they are.

I like the stuff I learn along the way in Mary Amato's books. This one has information about music and science (painless, interesting, part of the story). Invisible Lines has science I still think abo More...

This book was truly a treat. Hard to find a teen novel with a great friendship between male and female characters that doesn't end in true love or someone's heart getting broken. Amato's use of notes and songs to express the narrative was clever and well done, giving the reader a glimpse into Lyla and Tripp's true characters. While I can agree that the ending was rushed, it didn't bother me so much. And, here's why...Amato kinda backed herself into a corner with the (view spoiler)[ accident. Unless you're in a (hide spoiler)] More...

WOW!

This is really CUTE and ODD in a really interesting way! It's like I'm relearning how to play the guitar again. It feels that I'm getting back to my odd old self. I'm feeling happy and weird. I used to love words, phrases, poems, lyrics, songs, and music in general. I so have a weakness in music! Yeah because I'm a frustrated singer. But now I'm lost and doesn't want to be found. And my tears won't stop from falling because I'm in love with this book! I felt how it vibrated to my soul! Now More...

To add a nitpicky criticism to a book I otherwise truly enjoyed---I wish the author hadn't dismissed classical music in the manner she does---i.e. "You're copying and repeating something that somebody wrote a long time ago" or " I don't copy and repeat music that somebody else thinks is good. I play what's inside me." And my favorite-- "Scales are boring. If you're going to play, PLAY"
Geez, these remarks made me bristle . As if a classical musician can't bring their own personality to a piece. More...

I found this book to be quite enjoyable! It starts off with Tripp getting his guitar taken away by his mom until he can get his grades up. But the guitar is the only thing he feels he has and needs. So he signs up to get practice time in the school music room and use a guitar the school has in storage. Here is where he gets to know Lyla. He has odd days and she has even days. They start writing notes back and forward, and eventually become friends. She starts using the guitar, and he knows it, a More...

The first enjoyable YA book I've read in awhile. It follows the exploits of Tripp and Lyla (I might be partial to these character names because they sound like characters in 'Friday Night Lights'), one a "bad boy" (he's actually not really the bad) and the other a straight-A "perfect" student. I was much more partial to the Lyla character; author Mary Amato seemed to write the female character much more naturally, whereas I felt that Tripp's (often misplaced) aggression was, at times, forced. St More...

This book brought back memories of high school. The main characters, Lyla (Ms. Even) and Tripp (Mr. Odd) share a practice room during the week. Lyla is supposed to be practicing cello (which is a stress for her) while Tripp practices on the school guitar. Their paths converge one day when Lyla leaves Tripp a note tucked in the guitar strings, asking him to clean up after himself since they share the practice room. And thus begins a note-writing frenzy that culminates in a solid friendship. Lover More...

I have 3-hour breaks on Tuesdays for this sem, and earlier, while on a mission, I spontaneously decided to read this. In any other situation, I wouldn't have liked it and would prolly have just awarded it 2 stars, but all the music talk struck a chord (pun intended) within me. I could totally relate. And Mary Amato, the author, really wrote songs and had them recorded, and included the songbook to boot, which is so cool. I've been on a music high lately, which is why I picked up this book, out o More...