Little River, NY, 1994. Sixteen-year-old April Sawicki feels like she doesn’t belong in her town, or even in her own family. She “borrows” a neighbor’s car and sets off on her own, determined to find her place in the world. She meets important people along the way, and chronicles her life and her hurts in the songs she pens and sings.

I had high expectations for this one going in, as it seemed as if everyone was in love with it last year! I was not let down. April was an engaging and relatable heroine, as we witnessed her growing up and coming into her own through this journey. My heart broke for her that her own family let her down so much, and my heart soared each time she found someone who felt she mattered. I’ll be honest, this one felt like more of a four-star read for me until I got to the last thirty pages or so. The ending.