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A Song to Take the World Apart

Zan Romanoff (Goodreads Author)

3.53 · Rating details · 278 ratings · 72 reviews

What if you could make someone love you back, just by singing to them? Fans of Jandy Nelson’s I’ll Give You the Sun and Leslye Walton’s The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender will be captivated by this contemporary love story with hints of magical realism.

Hanging out with Chris was supposed to make Lorelei’s life normal. He’s cooler, he’s older, and he’s in a ba ...more

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Hardcover, 320 pages

Published September 13th 2016 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

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· 278 ratings · 72 reviews

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Aug 26, 2016 Dana rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: is-it-just-me, netgalley, le-fromage, romance, satellite-mind, insta-love, 2016, young-adult-paranormal, meh, bin

Unfortunately this story was not a hit for me. The description pulled me in, and I thought that the idea of a teenaged Siren was very interesting and unique. However this book turned out to not be anything like I expected and not in a good way.

Overall this story is not bad, it's decent, some people might even say good. But for me I just wanted more. The plot just ended up being so much smaller than I had hoped. I thought it would be about a teenaged girl coming to grips with a newly discovered ...more

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Sep 03, 2017 Olivia-Savannah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A Song to Take the World Apart was a novel that caught my eye as soon as I saw the cover. I looked into the book a little further by reading the synopsis and that was where I was really hooked. All signs in the synopsis pointed to this one being about sirens. It also had elements of magical realism which made me wary as I hadn’t enjoyed much within that genre previously, but this novel has made me sure that the issue with those novels themselves, and not the genre at all.

It was almost scary how A Song to Take the World Apart was a novel that caught my eye as soon as I saw the cover. I looked into the book a little further by reading the synopsis and that was where I was really hooked. All signs in the synopsis pointed to this one being about sirens. It also had elements of magical realism which made me wary as I hadn’t enjoyed much within that genre previously, but this novel has made me sure that the issue with those novels themselves, and not the genre at all.

It was almost scary how the writing style of this novel seemed to be so perfectly attuned to what I look for in a writing style. Despite it being of the young adult genre, this lent a little more on the adult side when it came to the writing style. It was written beautifully, with gentle and discreet foreshadowing and literary devices slipped into it to really represent what was occurring in the plot. It has a very slow and steady pace to it, and I have to admit that the pacing might not be for everyone. However, in my opinion, it added to the overall theme and aesthetic of the book – the writing style made me think of the gentle and yet forceful ocean, which has a key part to play in the novel.

I really liked the characters. We don’t get too much of a deep connection with them as this is told in third person but mostly focuses on what Lorelei is feeling and what is happening to her. She really is the center of the novel. But we do get to see some storylines which belong to other characters, and Romanoff expertly winds all the individual storylines into one. And somehow, they all come together to have an effect on the main storyline and the trouble that Lorelei manages to get herself caught into. So even though we don’t get to know too much about the lives of the secondary characters, we do get to see their significance.

The plot was perfect for me. It is suitable to read this one as a summery, light-hearted contemporary. Yet at the same time Romanoff shows the reader the difficulties within relationships, and how they are never straightforward. This is woven in well with the magical realism element of the story, which highlights how complicated relationships – whether those of family, friends or to do with love – can be.

There are other themes included as well as love. Again, if I have to describe these themes it would have to be like the ocean: present, but discreet at the same time. There is that of the romance, but also of how parental issues can reflect on the family, themes of death, love, and also LGBTQ+ themes. Music also has a large role to play in the novel, and not only when it comes to Lorelei being forbidden to sing. Also in terms of how music sets people free, how people can fall in love with it, and how music itself has a large influence on people.

The ending to the novel isn’t quite a closed ending, but isn’t quite an open ending either. I thought that would be something that bothered me. It didn’t, though, because it was perfectly suited to the novel and wrapped everything up in a way befitting of sending a particular message about life.

I loved reading A Song to Take the World Apart and can’t wait to read more by this author. I am aware that even though I loved it, it probably won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Hopefully this review will direct the right readers to it, and help you decide if it is something you might be able to enjoy.

This review and others can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://oliviascatastrophe.com/2017/09... ...more

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May 14, 2016 Kelly added it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-fiction, read-in-2016

This reminded me of a nice blend of Nova Ren Suma's and Sarah McCarry's prose, with the literary-story feel of Elana K Arnold's INFANDOUS. I don't get the Jandy Nelson comparison, since the prose here is actually quite understated.

This is a book about (view spoiler). I kinda saw it coming from miles away, since I'm familiar with the above-named authors, but I enjoyed the ride. Lorelei is a great character, ...more

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Sep 13, 2016 Eva • All Books Considered rated it liked it · review of another edition

Review originally posted at All Books Considered: 3 STARS

This started off so good! I really liked the feel of this when I first started reading it but that feeling was a bit misleading. I liked Lorelei as a Sophomore with a crush on Chris, the lead singer of a local band (and a Senior at her high school). I liked her anticipation of going to shows and of little interactions with Chris in the hallway. The real problem with this book was when the magical realism started to happen. This book is ...more

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Apr 10, 2016 mad mags rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2016, reviewed

A book about first loves, female power, and consent (spoiler alert: there is none in love spells).

(Full disclosure: I received a free electronic ARC for review through NetGalley.)

"No one remembers when it was that our ancestors first found their way out of the sea. It seems now that all human life might have begun there, and that makes sense to me: that the womb of the world is water and salt. But I am speaking more specifically about a kind of ancestor that not everyone on this earth shares. An ...more

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Jun 13, 2018 Katie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-faves

I finished this book on the plane to Minnesota, and it was honestly the perfect thing to read while travelling (super compelling but not very dense). I love Zan, I'm a HUGE fan of "Grace and the Fever" and I've been wanting to read this book for a while. I just adore the way Zan talks about music and sound. It's breathtaking and something I will never forget about her writing. What I loved most about this book was how there was an underlying feeling of unease throughout the whole thing, so that ...more

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Jun 22, 2016 Stephanie (Bookfever) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, review-copy, romance, young-adult, netgalley, 2016-publication

I didn't like A Song to Take the World Apart all that much, but I won't deny the uniqueness of it. And it's this uniqueness that is this story's strong suit, in my opinion. But even so, for me, it fell a little flat.

I just don't know what my thoughts are about Lorelei. Do I like her, don't I like her? I'm really not sure, even now that a couple of days have passed since I finished this book. I do have to say I liked her romance with Chris to a certain point.

Most of the story was rather vague an ...more

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Oct 12, 2016 Nick Fagerlund rated it really liked it

A story about a teenage siren who Makes Some Mistakes.

I liked this. It's overheated and bombastic in the way a story about dumbass teenage first love kind of has to be, but it has an admirable... hmm, I might need a word other than "restraint," here. "Economy," maybe — it's un-redundant, and resists the temptation to waste your time.

Here's my review: I wasn't really in the mood for this kind of book when I read it, but it was so well done that I loved it anyway. ...more

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Jun 19, 2016 Tanya Grech Welden rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A beautifully written title, with consistently delectable language, there is a lot to like about this book. I always enjoy a Contemporary with a touch of the paranormal and this did not fail to disappoint. Romanoff manages to engage with the serious issues of love and belonging in a fresh way that will certainly captivate a YA audience. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

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Feb 24, 2016 Kate added it · review of another edition

Shelves: shine-along, magical-realism

As I said on Twitter: Hot DAMN.

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Dec 05, 2016 Alyssa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was an absolutely gorgeously written book, like a lyrical, modern fairytale. Highly recommended for all those with an interest in myths and music, or a love of poetic language.

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Jan 02, 2017 Erica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I LIKED THE ENDING

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Sep 12, 2016 Jenna (Falling Letters) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, 2016, young-adult

Review originally published 13 September 2016 at Falling Letters. I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley.

I have to admit, I was completely baited in to read this book by the comparisons to I'll Give You the Sun and The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender . Those novels are two of my favourites in young adult, a category I'm very picky about. I didn't expect A Song to Take the World Apart to stand up to those two books, but if it was even just a bit like the two, th Review originally published 13 September 2016 at Falling Letters. I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley.

I have to admit, I was completely baited in to read this book by the comparisons to I'll Give You the Sun and The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender . Those novels are two of my favourites in young adult, a category I'm very picky about. I didn't expect A Song to Take the World Apart to stand up to those two books, but if it was even just a bit like the two, then I could see myself enjoying it. In general, I enjoy magical realism and mythical creatures and ocean settings, and I'm interested to see what can be done with them in a contemporary setting. At first, I wasn't sure how the plot was going to go. The story starts out a bit slow and very much as typical teen romance. But as Lorelei's abilities began to play into the plot, the story took on a more serious tone and became the kind of YA I adore.

What I liked most about this book is that the story isn't just about first love. It's also about love between friends and family. Lorelei's best friend Zoe was one of my favourite characters in the book. She helps to ground Lorelei. Lorelei's brothers, parents, and Oma also play a significant role in the story, just as important as Lorelei's love interest Chris. Where the story is about teen romance, I appreciated how realistic it felt. I also appreciated how other characters reminded Lorelei that her high school romance was just that - a high school romance, of the sort rarely built to last. I've noticed some reviews crying 'instalove!' but for me, the development of Lorelei and Chris' relationship was very natural and how I would expect a young relationship to grow, from my experience. (view spoiler) With regards to the relationships, I think that's where this book finds some comparison with I'll Give You the Sun. The relationships here aren't as strong or striking but I think they're just as real.

I also liked how Lorelei experiments with her ability and doesn't fully know how to control it or use it. She gets caught up in it, as you might expect her to. She has darker moments of negativity where she allows her to use her abilities impulsively and selfishly, as she can't really imagine the consequences. I thought this worked well as a something of a metaphor for growing up and realizing or learning how we can manipulate ourselves and others for our own greedy desires, even when we're trying to be decent people. I think this is why I enjoyed the book. It's not really a love story. It's a story about growing and finding yourself.

When I think of Ava Lavender, I think of the particular and lovely prose. The prose here doesn't really hold up to Ava Lavender. It's standard contemporary YA stuff. But there are some great moments, particularly in 1) the descriptions of how Lorelei feels when singing and in 2) some dialogue that captured important concepts. I wondered how the music scenes would play out, as listening to music can be such a unique and individual experience. Not to mention it's a very physical thing! Reading a description of music is nowhere near the same as listening to that music. However, Romanoff doesn't try to describe exactly how or what Lorelei sings. She instead describes the emotions of the experience, which she does very well. As for the dialogue, there were moments that touched on topics I considered important, things that maybe teens don't hear or talk about enough. That being said, I was frustrated that Zoe and Lorelei (and Lorelei and Chris) don't have any frank discussions about their relationships. Chris just becomes Lorelei's boyfriend, without any talk about it. There's a scene between Lorelei and Chris that I thought implied sex but later on when Lorelei speaks with Zoe, there's talk about how Lorelei might be jealous because Zoe had sex before Lorelei, and Lorelei doesn't comment on her own experience. I don't like the dancing around the subject, though I suppose it is realistic. At that age everything is new and exciting and therefore a bit scary too.

The Bottom Line: Overall, Romanoff makes a solid debut with this contemporary YA tale and its good twist of magical realism. I recommend A Song to Take the World Apart for those who love high school setting YA but could use a little shake-up. ...more

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May 10, 2020 Emily Perkovich rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned-books

The idea behind this story was beautiful. I was only disappointed in the lack of connection built between the reader and the characters/relationships. I was actually far more invested in the relationship between Lorelei and her best friend than in most of the other characters or details of the book, which was made doubly strange by the fact that there is little building of the character of Zoe, anyway. I felt in love with their friendship, but didn’t care much at all about either of them as peop ...more

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Apr 12, 2016 Devera Chandler rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 17-18-ga-peach-awards, 2016-reading_challenge

4.5 Stars
One sitting read. Could not put it down.
I LOVE mythical lore creatures. Even better? A family of Sirens! Sometimes their ability is put to poor use, but is that because they are young or they don't understand how to use their ability for good? YES. This book is intriguing and interesting and I love and hate the characters (as you're supposed to)! ...more

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May 27, 2016 Faye Ridpath rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: goodreads-first-reads

I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.

This book says it is meant for readers twelve and up. However, there is a lot of content that I don't feel is appropriate for a twelve year old.

Having said that, I have to say I loved the premise of this book.

I would definitely read more by this author. ...more

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Sep 22, 2016 Bianca rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: magical-realism, 2

All love spells are curses. To make someone feel what they don’t, and do things they wouldn’t. To take a person’s body, his mind. What else could you call it? Of course it was a curse.

— Very intriguing premise but terribly executed. I couldn't care less about the characters and the plot's very mehhhh. ...more

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Mar 11, 2016 Book added it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, wordcraft, 2016

Damn. Really fucking good. (If you need me, I'll be over here doing needlepoint or baking or anything other than writing because I clearly have no idea what I'm doing.) ...more

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Jul 25, 2016 Sara rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-ya, arcs, fantasy, ya-ya-ya, 2016-reads

Instalove, so extraordinarily badly. Good story, otherwise.

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Oct 11, 2016 Charlie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

BRAVA. I can't wait until may for Grace and the Fever! ...more

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Dec 05, 2016 Alyssa Palombo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A beautiful, lyrical novel tinged with magic and saturated with music and its power.

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Dec 19, 2016 Alexis Stankewitz rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: did-not-finish

I started skimming 30 percent of the way in... just no.

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May 04, 2020 Megan rated it liked it

Part magic, part realistic fiction YA, this was a book that made me think about the power of choices we make, what we do with the things we can control—even in extraordinary circumstances.

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Jun 15, 2017 Yasmin Yassin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book's great.
I usually don't read these types of books, but recently, I've been in the teen's section a lot.
This one's pretty much for teenagers, about facing hardships you'll just have to face head-on to get rid of.
Lorelei spends most of her life just accepting everything that was told to her, never questioning it. When she got the freedom to think for herself, all the desires she'd never let herself think about become attainable. She goes kind of crazy with the power, then recoils and tri ...more

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May 08, 2017 Barbara rated it liked it

Shelves: compassion, death, empathy, grief, families, friendship, health, humor, school, jobs

Sophomore Lorelei has lived a very quiet life in her suburban California home. From the time she can remember, there has never been music or singing in her house and her German grandmother has warned her never to sing. When she and her best friend Zoe deceive their parents and head to a concert given by The Trouble, a local band, headlined by Chris Paulson, a senior on whom she's crushing, Lorelei can't resist singing a line back to him as she departs. Anyone familiar with mythology will recogni ...more

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Sep 15, 2017 Emma rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017

*Actual rating is a 3.5*

Earlier this summer I read and loved Romanoff's other novel, Grace and the Fever, so I had to get my hands on this one. The magical realism of A Song to Take the World Apart was very well done. Lorelei's struggles with her powers felt as believable and real as her friend troubles. The portrayal of sirens was fresh and it was neat to read a book that used a myth that's often overlooked.

Romanoff's writing made this story for me. Her descriptions of music gave me a great se ...more

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May 27, 2017 Alyssa Gil rated it it was amazing

I didn't know what to expect going into this, but it absolutely blew me away. I'm really surprised to see that this doesn't have a very high average rating on here, because it's amazing.

The writing was so beautiful and I was so absorbed in the story that I had a hard time putting this down, and even though I wanted to find out what happened, I didn't want it to end.

This book has so much going for it on top of the writing as well. It's about first love, family, friendship, and music, among other ...more

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Jul 12, 2020 Ashley rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: magical-realism, ya-contemporary

There was so much I liked about this book and so much that I also found so cliche. I loved the family relationships and the friendship between Zoe and Lorelei. I wasn't a huge fan of Lorelei and Chris's instant love even if it was because of the plot. I wasn't a huge fan either of how Jackson treated Lorelei or how the LGBTQ romance that takes place in a side plot was handled so flimsy. I know the book wasn't about those two characters as main but still.

I did also love all the music stuff and pe ...more

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Jan 25, 2017 Teresa rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2017-read

Another modern update to an old story, only it didnt work well. Loreeli is a teenager who has been forbidden to sing. Noone will tell her why. She is raised by her grandmother even though her parents are in the house too. After grandma dies, she begins to question her heritage and why singing is forbidden. This story makes references to the greek myth about sirens. This reference was not done well and weiged the plot down. So defying her family she does sing and it affects Chris her boyfriend. T ...more

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Feb 25, 2018 Louise Tripp rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I don’t know why it took me so long to finish this book other than the fact that I was reading other (faster paced) books at the same time. But I loved the writing and this was a really killer novel to be a debut (at least, I think it was the author’s first). It’s so gorgeous, full of dreamy magical realism and insights on the near-mystical quality of first love. I stumbled on it in a stack of ARCs and I am so glad I picked it up. Definitely worth the read.

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