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The Secret Song of Shelby Rey
For fans of Gayle Forman and Sarah Dessen, a musically gifted teen in 2008 Los Angeles gets caught up in the tumultuous world of a narcissistic rock star and his brilliant but heroin-addicted bandmate.
A story of love, music, addiction, and self-discovery from the author of A Song For The Road
Eighteen-year-old Shelby Rey has a secret she can hear people’s deepest emotions and truths, in song form, just by touching them. But in a world where everyone guards their secrets, her gift feels more like a curse.
Life has been hard since she lost her dad, but it reaches a new low when she gets kicked out by her drug-addicted mom. Shelby’s life hits a turning point, however, when she meets Zac Wyatt, a chart-topping rock star with a hidden side only she can hear. Swept into his world of fame and music, Shelby forms an electrifying connection with Zac that she can’t resist.
But darkness lurks beneath the spotlight. Zac’s jealousy of his bandmate Stanford, a troubled musical genius, threatens to destroy everything—and when Shelby uncovers Stanford’s devastating truth, she faces an impossible choice that could shatter their world.
In a whirlwind of love, betrayal, heartbreak, and injustice, Shelby must find the courage to listen to her own inner song.
A story of love, music, addiction, and self-discovery from the author of A Song For The Road
Eighteen-year-old Shelby Rey has a secret she can hear people’s deepest emotions and truths, in song form, just by touching them. But in a world where everyone guards their secrets, her gift feels more like a curse.
Life has been hard since she lost her dad, but it reaches a new low when she gets kicked out by her drug-addicted mom. Shelby’s life hits a turning point, however, when she meets Zac Wyatt, a chart-topping rock star with a hidden side only she can hear. Swept into his world of fame and music, Shelby forms an electrifying connection with Zac that she can’t resist.
But darkness lurks beneath the spotlight. Zac’s jealousy of his bandmate Stanford, a troubled musical genius, threatens to destroy everything—and when Shelby uncovers Stanford’s devastating truth, she faces an impossible choice that could shatter their world.
In a whirlwind of love, betrayal, heartbreak, and injustice, Shelby must find the courage to listen to her own inner song.
328 pages, Paperback
Published June 3, 2025
5 people are currently reading
3584 people want to read
About the author
Rayne Lacko
4 books22 followersRayne Lacko is the author of The Secret Song of Shelby Rey, My Life Journal, Dream Up Now: The Teen Journal for Self-Discovery and A Song For The Road, a social-emotional learning-themed Young Adult novel, and Eric Hoffer Book Award honorable mention.
An expert in social-emotional learning, Rayne is the founder of SEL Solutions Pre K-12.
Rayne delivers lectures in creative writing, English Composition, and social-emotional learning (SEL), and trains educators to integrate SEL in classroom settings.
Her short fiction and poetry appear in Writer’s Digest, Ariel Chart International Literary Journal, Gravel, Mixtape Methodology, and Poetry Corners Anthology 2023. She has contributed to several publications to help families and teens stimulate change, help themselves and others, and be a force for good. She served as president of Bainbridge Performing Arts and is a volunteer assistance dog trainer for canine programs serving hospitalized children and children in trauma testifying in Washington courts.
Rayne cohosted creative writing workshops and camps, and facilitated a teen arts sowcase for seven years. She made TV appearances representing her former blog on new motherhood. She edited trade and consumer publications in the outdoor adventure industry with 2.7 million annual circulation.
Originally from Canada, Rayne now resides on a forested island in Washington, US. Rayne is married with two children and a noisy cat.
She earned her Master’s in Humanities (specializing in creative writing and in social-emotional learning) at Antioch University. She has a BA in Liberal Studies, with concentrations in creative writing and leadership. Rayne earned her Certificate in Teaching Higher Education at Harvard University.
An expert in social-emotional learning, Rayne is the founder of SEL Solutions Pre K-12.
Rayne delivers lectures in creative writing, English Composition, and social-emotional learning (SEL), and trains educators to integrate SEL in classroom settings.
Her short fiction and poetry appear in Writer’s Digest, Ariel Chart International Literary Journal, Gravel, Mixtape Methodology, and Poetry Corners Anthology 2023. She has contributed to several publications to help families and teens stimulate change, help themselves and others, and be a force for good. She served as president of Bainbridge Performing Arts and is a volunteer assistance dog trainer for canine programs serving hospitalized children and children in trauma testifying in Washington courts.
Rayne cohosted creative writing workshops and camps, and facilitated a teen arts sowcase for seven years. She made TV appearances representing her former blog on new motherhood. She edited trade and consumer publications in the outdoor adventure industry with 2.7 million annual circulation.
Originally from Canada, Rayne now resides on a forested island in Washington, US. Rayne is married with two children and a noisy cat.
She earned her Master’s in Humanities (specializing in creative writing and in social-emotional learning) at Antioch University. She has a BA in Liberal Studies, with concentrations in creative writing and leadership. Rayne earned her Certificate in Teaching Higher Education at Harvard University.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 3, 2025
Life isn’t easy for Shelby Rey. She’s lost of her father, and since then, her mother hasn’t really been a mother. On top of that, she has this special secret that when she touches someone, she can hear the music inside them. Then she meets Zac Wyatt, the head of a rock band. He seems to think she’s his muse. But he’s super jealous of his bandmate. Shelby then finds out the truth and has an important decision to make.
When I read the synopsis to this book, I knew I had to read it. I love books that have the music element to it. The way that Lacko has Rey and other characters describe music is exactly how I feel about it. While these aren’t direct quotes, the sentiment is there: it’s the greatest form of expression; a well written song can evoke emotions and memories, it can make you feel like the song has been written for you. In this book, all Zac wants to do is write a meaningful song so that it connects with his audience. Music is a connection.
Now, getting to the characters: Zac I waivered with! At first I liked him and then I didn’t. Shelby I felt really bad for – she wanted a way out of her life, but it’s difficult when you don’t know how to do that. I was happy that she was provided an opportunity to better her life, even if she made some terrible choices once she was able to make her own choices. Sometimes, someone has to make terrible choices and go on the wrong track in order to get right back on track.
This book discusses a lot of heavy topics, substance abuse, mental health, suicide, and toxic relationships. So if those are triggering for you, please take pause before reading. However, this is a beautiful book and I really enjoyed how it ended. It didn’t end how I thought it would as I was reading the book, but nonetheless, it was the perfect ending for some of these characters.
When I read the synopsis to this book, I knew I had to read it. I love books that have the music element to it. The way that Lacko has Rey and other characters describe music is exactly how I feel about it. While these aren’t direct quotes, the sentiment is there: it’s the greatest form of expression; a well written song can evoke emotions and memories, it can make you feel like the song has been written for you. In this book, all Zac wants to do is write a meaningful song so that it connects with his audience. Music is a connection.
Now, getting to the characters: Zac I waivered with! At first I liked him and then I didn’t. Shelby I felt really bad for – she wanted a way out of her life, but it’s difficult when you don’t know how to do that. I was happy that she was provided an opportunity to better her life, even if she made some terrible choices once she was able to make her own choices. Sometimes, someone has to make terrible choices and go on the wrong track in order to get right back on track.
This book discusses a lot of heavy topics, substance abuse, mental health, suicide, and toxic relationships. So if those are triggering for you, please take pause before reading. However, this is a beautiful book and I really enjoyed how it ended. It didn’t end how I thought it would as I was reading the book, but nonetheless, it was the perfect ending for some of these characters.
April 21, 2025
An ode to music that brings learning to love oneself and the struggles of dealing with addiction center stage.
Shelby Rey has always been able to hear the secret songs that people hide deep within themselves. With a single touch, she can know a stranger's deepest secrets and their darkest fears. Her life has been a living nightmare after her father committed suicide, which led her mother to rely on alcohol and pills to numb the pain. Shelby's only escape is in music. When she meets Zac Wyatt, a moody rockstar with a charming side that only Shelby can hear, her life begins to change drastically. Feeling seen for the first time in her life, Shelby gets caught up in the world of fortune and fame. Shelby begins to discover that the brightest lights often hide the darkest secrets. Now, she must learn to walk to the beat of her own drum or be lost within the confines of everyone else's issues forever.
Whenever a book is centered around a musical element, my interest is piqued. Shelby's musical gift that allows her to hear other people's life stories is an interesting piece of magical realism. Stories that showcase the music industry and boy bands are also usually pretty fun, so I signed up for this one immediately. However, this book wasn't exactly the fun ride I was hoping it would be.
This book dives into many hard topics that many people experience. Addiction, suicide, domestic abuse, and mental disorders are all front and center in this novel. Shelby comes from a horrendous home situation where she has to sleep on the couch, share her mother's clothes, and deal with her mother's constant toxic behavior and badgering. My heart really goes out to Shelby, but she also doesn't make very many intelligent decisions throughout the course of this novel. She refuses therapy, hooks up with a sus guy she just met, and allows herself to be wrapped up in a whirlwind of toxic masculinity and abusive situations all over again. I know that she's the victim here, but I wish she would have advocated for herself a little better. I'm glad to report that by the end of this book she does stand up for herself and starts to pave a decent life for herself, which is certainly inspiring.
I have read several books that feature boy bands, K-pop groups, and other communities that thrive in the spotlight. This book was similar to them in many ways, which had me zoning out at moments. This isn't the book's fault, per se, but it is worth mentioning that it's pretty typical celebrity drama. There is a ton of drug abuse, toxic relationships, false reports in the media, and lots of people backstabbing each other to get ahead in the industry. If you love gossip and drama, this is a positive, but I found it a tad tedious at times.
The thing that I disliked the most about this one is Shelby and Zac's romantic relationship. I know that it is supposed to be toxic and Zac taking advantage of her is an important life lesson for Shelby to learn, but that didn't make it any less icky. The sexual tension between these two is quite. . . intense, and they certainly act upon their inclinations as soon as they possible can. The way that Zac forces Shelby to dress as well as the way he tries to take credit for her work is also gross; it all makes Zac a truly unlikable character.
I think the think I like most of about this book is the way that it speaks about music. A well written song can invoke so many feelings in a person and let them feel seen in a way that few other things can; Lacko captures this feeling so eloquently. Being able to connect with a songwriter's life even though I've never met them is a truly magical experience. Music brings people together so effortlessly and a song that one relates to dearly can feel as though someone is looking directly into one's soul. Shelby's gift is a physical manifestation of this, which I found to be pretty neat.
Overall, "The Secret Song of Shelby Rey" is a moving story about overcoming life's challenges and forging the path that makes you feel good about yourself. The way that this book talks about music and how humanity connects to it is truly magical, and the way this book tackles topics such as substance abuse is mature and impactful. Unfortunately, this book is filled with such toxic relations and circumstances that I found myself often not loving my time with it. Especially when it came to Shelby and Zac's instant attraction to one another. The characters certainly grow, and many lessons are learned through all the tragic situations the characters find themselves in, but it made it hard for me to truly dig this story.
Shelby Rey has always been able to hear the secret songs that people hide deep within themselves. With a single touch, she can know a stranger's deepest secrets and their darkest fears. Her life has been a living nightmare after her father committed suicide, which led her mother to rely on alcohol and pills to numb the pain. Shelby's only escape is in music. When she meets Zac Wyatt, a moody rockstar with a charming side that only Shelby can hear, her life begins to change drastically. Feeling seen for the first time in her life, Shelby gets caught up in the world of fortune and fame. Shelby begins to discover that the brightest lights often hide the darkest secrets. Now, she must learn to walk to the beat of her own drum or be lost within the confines of everyone else's issues forever.
Whenever a book is centered around a musical element, my interest is piqued. Shelby's musical gift that allows her to hear other people's life stories is an interesting piece of magical realism. Stories that showcase the music industry and boy bands are also usually pretty fun, so I signed up for this one immediately. However, this book wasn't exactly the fun ride I was hoping it would be.
This book dives into many hard topics that many people experience. Addiction, suicide, domestic abuse, and mental disorders are all front and center in this novel. Shelby comes from a horrendous home situation where she has to sleep on the couch, share her mother's clothes, and deal with her mother's constant toxic behavior and badgering. My heart really goes out to Shelby, but she also doesn't make very many intelligent decisions throughout the course of this novel. She refuses therapy, hooks up with a sus guy she just met, and allows herself to be wrapped up in a whirlwind of toxic masculinity and abusive situations all over again. I know that she's the victim here, but I wish she would have advocated for herself a little better. I'm glad to report that by the end of this book she does stand up for herself and starts to pave a decent life for herself, which is certainly inspiring.
I have read several books that feature boy bands, K-pop groups, and other communities that thrive in the spotlight. This book was similar to them in many ways, which had me zoning out at moments. This isn't the book's fault, per se, but it is worth mentioning that it's pretty typical celebrity drama. There is a ton of drug abuse, toxic relationships, false reports in the media, and lots of people backstabbing each other to get ahead in the industry. If you love gossip and drama, this is a positive, but I found it a tad tedious at times.
The thing that I disliked the most about this one is Shelby and Zac's romantic relationship. I know that it is supposed to be toxic and Zac taking advantage of her is an important life lesson for Shelby to learn, but that didn't make it any less icky. The sexual tension between these two is quite. . . intense, and they certainly act upon their inclinations as soon as they possible can. The way that Zac forces Shelby to dress as well as the way he tries to take credit for her work is also gross; it all makes Zac a truly unlikable character.
I think the think I like most of about this book is the way that it speaks about music. A well written song can invoke so many feelings in a person and let them feel seen in a way that few other things can; Lacko captures this feeling so eloquently. Being able to connect with a songwriter's life even though I've never met them is a truly magical experience. Music brings people together so effortlessly and a song that one relates to dearly can feel as though someone is looking directly into one's soul. Shelby's gift is a physical manifestation of this, which I found to be pretty neat.
Overall, "The Secret Song of Shelby Rey" is a moving story about overcoming life's challenges and forging the path that makes you feel good about yourself. The way that this book talks about music and how humanity connects to it is truly magical, and the way this book tackles topics such as substance abuse is mature and impactful. Unfortunately, this book is filled with such toxic relations and circumstances that I found myself often not loving my time with it. Especially when it came to Shelby and Zac's instant attraction to one another. The characters certainly grow, and many lessons are learned through all the tragic situations the characters find themselves in, but it made it hard for me to truly dig this story.
September 9, 2025
I've been sitting on my review of The Secret Song of Shelby Rey for a little while because I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it. There are things I love, like the premise: with just a touch, Shelby can hear someone else's song, which is essentially their life, or at least pieces of it. There are things I wish we'd explored more, like the third part of the love triangle (Stanford), or the songs themselves. And then there's Zac, whom I loathed almost immediately and nearly every moment spent with him is torture.
Had that been true for the entire book, I would've easily been able to mark this as simply not for me and kept it moving, but Zac does have moments of near clarity where you can tell he wants to be better than he is. He wants to be a better man and even has a vague idea of the first few steps to do so, but holy fuck is he committed to either not taking them or setting everything else on fire in the process. There are times my skin would crawl at the things he was thinking and the reminder that he may be fictional but there really are people just this godawful.
But he's Zac and the book is called The Secret Song of Shelby Rey.
And Shelby is a goddamn mess. The longer the book went on, the more it seemed like she was one of those manic pixie dream girl spoofs from awhile back brought to life, only without the spoof part. Like she's played totally straight and it's kind of concerning just how little critical thinking she bothers with. For a good chunk of the book, it's a wonder how she's still alive because she seems almost incapable of thinking beyond the moment. Which is weird, because the Shelby we're introduced to at the start of the book is definitely traumatized by her father's death, her mother in general, and how life has turned out, to say nothing of how a person would actually react to hearing actual songs whenever they brushed up against a stranger, but she doesn't seem ...stupid? But there are times after she's living with Zac where that's pretty much the best way to describe her. I can't figure out if this is intentional, like how Zac admits to not really providing her with actual clothes once she moves in because he likes her prancing around half naked (and how that also could keep her from leaving), and meant to be commentary on how the lawlessness of living with the band rubs off on Shelby and how she kind of adapts to her circumstances or if I'm still supposed to just love her no matter what. There are literally moments in the book I want to reach through the pages and shake her until her one working braincell activates again, and that's just not healthy.
The end kind of spirals out of control and parts just end rather abruptly (anything to do with Stan), given exactly what does happen with Shelby/Stanford/Zac, but I will admit to crying at a moment or two as things wrapped up for Shelby.
This seems very much a case of the book cover gives a vibe at odds with the actual book, and for me I was thinking we'd get more inter-band/magical song moments and in reality it's a whole lot messier. I can see people absolutely loving this and I hope each person who would love it finds it. It just wasn't for me.
Had that been true for the entire book, I would've easily been able to mark this as simply not for me and kept it moving, but Zac does have moments of near clarity where you can tell he wants to be better than he is. He wants to be a better man and even has a vague idea of the first few steps to do so, but holy fuck is he committed to either not taking them or setting everything else on fire in the process. There are times my skin would crawl at the things he was thinking and the reminder that he may be fictional but there really are people just this godawful.
But he's Zac and the book is called The Secret Song of Shelby Rey.
And Shelby is a goddamn mess. The longer the book went on, the more it seemed like she was one of those manic pixie dream girl spoofs from awhile back brought to life, only without the spoof part. Like she's played totally straight and it's kind of concerning just how little critical thinking she bothers with. For a good chunk of the book, it's a wonder how she's still alive because she seems almost incapable of thinking beyond the moment. Which is weird, because the Shelby we're introduced to at the start of the book is definitely traumatized by her father's death, her mother in general, and how life has turned out, to say nothing of how a person would actually react to hearing actual songs whenever they brushed up against a stranger, but she doesn't seem ...stupid? But there are times after she's living with Zac where that's pretty much the best way to describe her. I can't figure out if this is intentional, like how Zac admits to not really providing her with actual clothes once she moves in because he likes her prancing around half naked (and how that also could keep her from leaving), and meant to be commentary on how the lawlessness of living with the band rubs off on Shelby and how she kind of adapts to her circumstances or if I'm still supposed to just love her no matter what. There are literally moments in the book I want to reach through the pages and shake her until her one working braincell activates again, and that's just not healthy.
The end kind of spirals out of control and parts just end rather abruptly (anything to do with Stan), given exactly what does happen with Shelby/Stanford/Zac, but I will admit to crying at a moment or two as things wrapped up for Shelby.
This seems very much a case of the book cover gives a vibe at odds with the actual book, and for me I was thinking we'd get more inter-band/magical song moments and in reality it's a whole lot messier. I can see people absolutely loving this and I hope each person who would love it finds it. It just wasn't for me.
May 27, 2025
The Secret Song of Shelby Rey presents the unexpected coming-of-age story of Shelby, who has faced considerable hardship. At eighteen, she is navigating homelessness after her mother, struggling with addiction, asks her to move out. Compounding this, Shelby has lived with the grief of her father's suicide four years prior. Since then, she has also carried a unique ability: upon touching someone, she hears their deepest truths expressed in song. Often overwhelmed, Shelby finds solace in listening to her father's music. Following an incident on a bus, Shelby is connected with a social worker named Jaclyn. Jaclyn offers Shelby a temporary place to stay with her and her husband, Dr. Gibson, while Shelby considers her next steps. Meanwhile, Dr. Gibson's patient, Zac Wyatt, a member of the popular rock band Grounder, is on his own journey of self-discovery. He is striving to find his individual voice, separate from the band's established sound and their songwriter, Stanford.
When Shelby and Zac's paths cross, an undeniable connection forms. Shelby can perceive the music within Zac, drawing out the melodies he has been searching for. Zac, in turn, looks beyond Shelby's outward quirks, appreciating her intense passion and inherent musicality. Despite this promising beginning, both carry their own challenges. Shelby has never experienced a stable relationship, and Zac is still deeply entrenched in his rockstar lifestyle. Told through alternating perspectives of Zac and Shelby, the narrative immediately drew me into their individual stories. The characters are distinct and richly developed. Shelby's voice is portrayed with a lyrical and deeply emotional quality, conveying her raw and honest feelings. Zac is depicted as a character pulled in numerous directions, desperately seeking authenticity. Their meeting leads Zac to believe he has found his muse, while Shelby feels she has finally found someone who understands her unique experience. However, their seemingly perfect pairing is tested as Shelby discovers Zac is not the creative force behind Grounder, and that he may be exploiting her talent to advance his own career. Filled with music, romance, the complexities of addiction, compelling characters, and a sense of endless possibility, The Secret Song of Shelby Rey is a thoughtful and surprising exploration of self-discovery.
Book received for free in exchange for an honest review.
When Shelby and Zac's paths cross, an undeniable connection forms. Shelby can perceive the music within Zac, drawing out the melodies he has been searching for. Zac, in turn, looks beyond Shelby's outward quirks, appreciating her intense passion and inherent musicality. Despite this promising beginning, both carry their own challenges. Shelby has never experienced a stable relationship, and Zac is still deeply entrenched in his rockstar lifestyle. Told through alternating perspectives of Zac and Shelby, the narrative immediately drew me into their individual stories. The characters are distinct and richly developed. Shelby's voice is portrayed with a lyrical and deeply emotional quality, conveying her raw and honest feelings. Zac is depicted as a character pulled in numerous directions, desperately seeking authenticity. Their meeting leads Zac to believe he has found his muse, while Shelby feels she has finally found someone who understands her unique experience. However, their seemingly perfect pairing is tested as Shelby discovers Zac is not the creative force behind Grounder, and that he may be exploiting her talent to advance his own career. Filled with music, romance, the complexities of addiction, compelling characters, and a sense of endless possibility, The Secret Song of Shelby Rey is a thoughtful and surprising exploration of self-discovery.
Book received for free in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2025
There's something utterly captivating about a protagonist who can literally hear the music in people's souls, and Rayne Lacko delivers this concept with breathtaking emotional depth in The Secret Song of Shelby Rey. From the moment I cracked open this ARC (thanks, Books Forward!), I was completely transported into Shelby's world of supernatural empathy and musical revelation.
Set against the glittering yet gritty backdrop of 2008 Los Angeles, this novel follows eighteen-year-old Shelby Rey, whose extraordinary ability to hear people's deepest truths through song feels more like a burden than a gift. After losing her father and being abandoned by her drug-addicted mother, Shelby's life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters chart-topping rock star Zac Wyatt. What unfolds is a mesmerizing tale of fame, addiction, and the dangerous allure of living someone else's truth.
If you loved Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, this book will absolutely sing to your heart. Like Zoey, Shelby experiences the world through an intensely musical lens, hearing the emotions others can't or won't express. But where Zoey's gift brings healing, Shelby's often brings pain—a darker, more complex exploration of what it means to truly hear people.
Rayne Lacko masterfully weaves together themes of love, betrayal, and self-discovery while never losing sight of music's transformative power. The relationship between Shelby, the narcissistic Zac, and the brilliantly troubled Stanford creates a compelling triangle that goes far beyond typical romance tropes. Each character feels authentically flawed and human, making their choices—however devastating—completely believable.
Fans of Gayle Forman and Sarah Dessen will find familiar emotional territory here, but Rayne Lacko's supernatural twist elevates the story into something uniquely powerful. The novel doesn't shy away from difficult topics like addiction and manipulation, yet it maintains hope throughout Shelby's journey toward finding her own voice.
The Secret Song of Shelby Rey is a stunning meditation on the courage it takes to listen to your own inner music when the world is full of noise. This is YA contemporary at its finest—raw, musical, and absolutely unforgettable.
Perfect for readers who loved Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Gayle Forman's emotional depth, and stories about finding your voice.
June 8, 2025
The Secret Song of Shelby Rey is raw, emotional, and totally unique. Shelby’s eighteen, kicked out by her mom, grieving her dad, and crashing with strangers while trying to figure out what’s next. She also happens to hear people’s truths in song form whenever she touches them—not exactly easy to deal with when most people are hiding something.
Then she meets Zac Wyatt, a famous musician with charm, baggage, and a lot of things he’s not saying out loud. Shelby gets caught up in his world, but it doesn’t take long before it’s clear something’s off. His bandmate Stanford is the real talent, and the more Shelby learns, the harder it gets to tell who’s using who.
This story digs deep—addiction, grief, mental health, toxic relationships—it’s all there, and it’s handled with care. Shelby doesn’t always make great choices, but she’s doing her best to figure things out. The music element adds something really special, and the ending hit in a way I didn’t expect, but really appreciated.
If you’re into character-driven stories with tough topics, flawed people, and a little bit of magic, this one’s worth picking up.
Thank you @raynelacko and @booksforwardpr for the #gifted book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Then she meets Zac Wyatt, a famous musician with charm, baggage, and a lot of things he’s not saying out loud. Shelby gets caught up in his world, but it doesn’t take long before it’s clear something’s off. His bandmate Stanford is the real talent, and the more Shelby learns, the harder it gets to tell who’s using who.
This story digs deep—addiction, grief, mental health, toxic relationships—it’s all there, and it’s handled with care. Shelby doesn’t always make great choices, but she’s doing her best to figure things out. The music element adds something really special, and the ending hit in a way I didn’t expect, but really appreciated.
If you’re into character-driven stories with tough topics, flawed people, and a little bit of magic, this one’s worth picking up.
Thank you @raynelacko and @booksforwardpr for the #gifted book. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 13, 2025
What if you could hear people’s deepest, darkest emotions in the form of a song… just by touching them? Would you want it? That is the life of 18-year-old Shelby Rey. She’s been having a rough time since her father passed, but then she meets Zac Wyatt (I have strong feelings about him…). Zac has some issues to work through.
Shelby and Zac have an obvious connection, and it was really cool to witness this connection. There was a significant amount of… toxicity in this book that made it hard for me to really get into. I started really liking Zac, but then I grew to really despise him. Don’t get me wrong, I get what he was going through, but my word…
This book covers a multitude of heavy topics, such as grief, addiction, and toxic relationships. Shelby doesn’t always make the best choices, but she works through them. I enjoyed the musical element and how every character had flaws. This was enjoyable, although a little heavy.
Shelby and Zac have an obvious connection, and it was really cool to witness this connection. There was a significant amount of… toxicity in this book that made it hard for me to really get into. I started really liking Zac, but then I grew to really despise him. Don’t get me wrong, I get what he was going through, but my word…
This book covers a multitude of heavy topics, such as grief, addiction, and toxic relationships. Shelby doesn’t always make the best choices, but she works through them. I enjoyed the musical element and how every character had flaws. This was enjoyable, although a little heavy.
June 3, 2025
Going in, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but Lacko captured my attention right away, and I didn't want to set this down once I started reading. The premise sounded so odd, that I truly wasn't sure how it would all be pulled together. I loved the way everything was described. While I can't say I've ever felt someone's song coming from them when they touched me, reading this book, I felt like I could experience it right alongside Shelby. The pacing was on point, keeping things moving smoothly. On the one hand, you have a coming of age story, with a twist of magic, on the other, rock stars, music, and a beat that runs beneath everything. Overall, you have an unforgettable story of love, loss, and finding oneself in the midst of everything.
June 5, 2025
The Secret Song of Shelby Rey is a beautiful, powerful, and emotional story.
Rayne Lacko does an amazing job of using music to tell Shelby’s story. Shelby has lived through some horrible life experiences and music is the only thing she can really relate to. Shelby can hear the soundtrack of other people‘s lives and it’s what draws her to them or pushes her away from them.
Shelby’s story pulls at your heartstrings; it evokes sadness and grief, but also hope. While Shelby’s mother treats her badly, Shelby finds a new family with a husband and wife who take her in and care for her. Shelby learns about grief, love, loss, and self discovery.
This is a fantastic story and I highly recommend it!
Rayne Lacko does an amazing job of using music to tell Shelby’s story. Shelby has lived through some horrible life experiences and music is the only thing she can really relate to. Shelby can hear the soundtrack of other people‘s lives and it’s what draws her to them or pushes her away from them.
Shelby’s story pulls at your heartstrings; it evokes sadness and grief, but also hope. While Shelby’s mother treats her badly, Shelby finds a new family with a husband and wife who take her in and care for her. Shelby learns about grief, love, loss, and self discovery.
This is a fantastic story and I highly recommend it!
June 16, 2025
This book is a great read if you loved Sarah Dessen books growing up! It's a gritty upper YA novel that definitely delves into some tough, but important, topics like complex romantic relationships, addiction, and the issues that come with young/ fast fame. I loved the characters in this book. Lacko does an excellent job of fleshing out emotions and relationships between characters. A rich YA read for upper high school students!
June 19, 2025
The Secret Song of Shelby Rey is a raw, lyrical story about a girl who doesn't just listen to music — she lives through it.
Shelby’s journey is messy, emotional, and beautifully honest. Grief, betrayal, first love, and the chaos of finding your voice — it’s all here, strung together like a bittersweet melody.
If you’ve ever felt like the world doesn’t hear you until you press play… this one’s for y
Shelby’s journey is messy, emotional, and beautifully honest. Grief, betrayal, first love, and the chaos of finding your voice — it’s all here, strung together like a bittersweet melody.
If you’ve ever felt like the world doesn’t hear you until you press play… this one’s for y
August 13, 2025
I was super intrigued by the premise of this book. The title character, Shelby Rey, can hear your personal inner music when she touches you. I was a little disappointed to find that this wonderfully promising premise was never really developed. In fact, it fell apart rather quickly with a couple of developments that logically just didn't make any sense. It was an OK book, but I really wish the author would have gone somewhere else with it.
October 21, 2025
With an original and compelling premise, Lacko’s novel delivers a story that explores the power and the magic—both real and imagined—of creating and listening to music. The writing is wonderful and the characters intriguing and complicated. Weaving in threads of music industry mayhem, mental health and substance abuse, the book takes the reader to a recognizable Los Angeles, and then goes beyond spinning a tale as full of heart and yearning as glitz and glamor. Truly a fresh read!
December 31, 2025
What a mess.
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