We’re very lucky to have such amazing authors who are writing intelligent LGBTQ+ YA at the moment, particularly in the MM genre. In the US there are people like Alex Sanchez and Brent Hartinger who write realistic gay male characters, never afraid to show us as flawed individuals. And in the UK we have people like William Hussey who write deep, emotionally rich stories of loss and belonging. And let’s not forgot the brilliant Simon James Green, whose light hearted youthful style captures the comedic awkwardness of growing up, as well as the struggles of living under Section 28. Amazingly intelligent authors who try to “write up” to their audiences and never talk down. So I thought I’d try this book, my first book by Irish author Simon Doyle, to see how he compares to some of the other YA writers out there.

The book opens shortly after the death of Owen’s grandfather. We follow Owen in the weeks after the funeral as he deals with the grief and the absence of his grandfather. Whilst out sketching one day he meets Jun-Ho, a South Korean kid who just happens to be deaf and who sparks Owen’s interest and slowly begins to draw him out of his grief.

The first thing I noticed when reading the start of this book was how clear the authors voice was. He seemed to have a beautifully descriptive style that managed to push the plot forward, avoiding its use as narrative padding. These descriptions captured each scene perfectly, creating a mood that reflected Owen’s view of the world. There was a real melancholy to the writing as we followed Owen through his daily routine in the wake of his grandfathers death. It showed how he struggled with the feelings of loss and the all consuming sadness that accompanies the grief of losing someone so close. Perceiving the world at a distance, almost detached. But when Jun-Ho enters his life, things started to shift for him. And at the same time, things also started to shift for me with this book, but not necessarily in the same way.

As an exploration of grief this book really hit its mark. Not just when dealing with the loss but also in showing how a person can feel separated from everyone. Their interaction with friends and family and the difficulty they have in returning to a normal life. However as a romance I struggled to feel the connection between the two male leads. I couldn’t feel the attraction between the two boys, despite the author insisting it was there. He really tries to write a romantic connection between the two of them but I just couldn’t feel it. In fact I felt more of a connection between Owen and his best friend Ryan than I did with Owen and Jun. Owen’s relationship with Ryan just dominated the page whenever the two of them were together. And that was such a shame as the book changed its main focus onto Owen’s growing feelings for Jun, making this more of a teen romance than a study of grief.

I also felt the quality of the writing started to slip a little too. Some of the writing just didn’t seem quite right, somewhat cringy in places. Like when Owen was biting his lip trying to stop himself from smiling the author wrote “…I was neither a cat nor from Cheshire.” Then we had phrases like “… every drop of blood I owned”. Some of the writing just didn’t feel right… a little too juvenile (does a person actually ‘own’ their blood?) Now I could be wrong, maybe the author intended his writing to sound like that, after all he is writing from a 16 year old’s point of view. But after such a strong start these types of phrases really stood out to me.

I think your enjoyment of this book will very much depend on how much Owen and Jun’s relationship resonates with you, and whether you buy in to it or not. For me I could not find the connection, so I did not find all those chapters of Owen swooning over Jun that engaging. I found them dull, actually. However the parts which dealt with Owen and his family’s grieving, and how they attempted to move on, were really interesting. Indeed all the family storylines were engaging. I particularly liked Owens growing relationship with Mick and how author dealt with Owen’s Mum trying to move on from Tommy’s death. In someways this would have been a stronger book without the romance, if Owen and Jun were just friends.

It is such a shame I didn’t gel with this book the way I’d hoped, but that’s mainly down to the main relationship. I’m sorry Jun and Owen but you lost me at “hello”. But that’s not to say others won’t like it, particularly if the main characters work for you, and you’re in the mood for some moody teenage pining. I’ll definitely check out more of this authors work, especially if they’re more like the first part of this book.

Simon Doyle's "The Sound of You" promises a deeply moving and resonant story about grief, connection, and the power of finding one's voice. The summary paints a vivid picture of a tender, slow-burn queer romance that is both introspective and ultimately empowering.

At its heart is sixteen-year-old Owen Kelly, grappling with the profound loss of someone who truly understood him. His retreat into art—his sketchbook—is a classic yet effective portrayal of a character processing immense grief and a world that feels "out of tune." This immediately sets a melancholic, yet relatable, tone for Owen's journey.

The accidental meeting with Jun-ho Lee appears to be the catalyst for Owen's transformation. Jun-ho, described as quiet, observant, and Deaf, brings a unique dynamic to the narrative. His communication through gestures and glances will undoubtedly force Owen to engage in a "new kind of conversation," both literally and metaphorically. This promises a beautiful exploration of non-verbal communication and the depth of understanding that can exist beyond spoken words. The fact that Jun-ho is Korean-Irish also hints at potential cultural layers that could enrich the story.

As Owen and Jun-ho navigate their intertwined lives, the central conflict seems to be Owen confronting "the silence inside him." This suggests a journey of healing and self-discovery, where Jun-ho acts as a mirror or a guide, helping Owen to break free from his emotional "static." However, the stakes are raised when the "outside world closes in," forcing them to fight not just to stay together, but "to be heard in a world that never listens." This adds an element of external conflict, hinting at societal prejudices or misunderstandings that the boys will have to overcome, amplifying the theme of finding one's voice.

Comparisons to beloved titles like Heartstopper, I’ll Give You the Sun, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower set high expectations for "The Sound of You." These comparisons suggest a story rich in emotional depth, authentic character relationships, and a powerful narrative that tackles challenging themes with sensitivity.

"The Sound of You" sounds like a compelling read for anyone seeking a poignant exploration of queer romance, the complexities of grief, and the profound beauty of connection found in unexpected places. It's a story that seems poised to remind us that sometimes, as the summary suggests, silence truly is louder.

I loved "The Sound of You" on so many levels. I did not want to stop reading it!
The story gives us a beautiful picture of grief, personal growth as a teenager, embracing cultural differences and bridging communication between deaf and hearing people.

My personal highlight was the exhibition they did at the end, which really showed how deaf people aren't as different to hearing people as many think. This is also supported by how effortlessly Jun and Owen communicate throughout the book. At the beginning it's a little difficult, but Owen adapts and with time it becomes second nature.

I would recommend everyone to read this book!

This is an honest review in exchange for an e-ARC. Thank you to SD Press, Simon Doyle and NetGalley for the e-ARC

Thank you so much NetGalley, SD Press, Simon Doyle for the ARC!

The sound of you was just so amazing! It was such a sweet story with so much heart and sappy little moments between Owen and Jun-ho. They were just so perfect and the fact that they both helped each other with difficult part of their lives was just such a great thing.

I haven’t read my books with deaf representation, but I think that Simon did an amazing job and handling that well and showing how Owen and Jun-ho’s budding relationship works. I will say though the fact that Owen learned ISL to speak with Jun-ho just made me kick my feet and giggle! I mean come on talk about romantic! 🥰

I really loved the fact that Owen fought to Jun-ho, when his father came and wanted to take him away. It just showed how much Owen cared for him and what he was willing to do. But the exhibit turned into more than just that, it really helped others take on a new perspective. That alone was my favourite part of the whole book and just a great way to lead towards the ending.

Overall, 10/10 and would def read this again.

Thank you SD Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I absolutely loved this story! Owen has just lost someone he loved dearly. And he’s struggling to navigate the world without them. Then he bumps into Jun-Ho, and though he doesn’t speak to Owen on their first encounter, Owen can’t get him out of his head. To his surprise and delight they run into each other the next day, it’s then that Owen learns Jun is Deaf. He grew up in Korea and recently moved to Ireland with his mom who’s Irish. Jun knows ISL and KSL and he can also read lips. Which is lucky for Owen. But he decides he’s going to learn ISL and it helps but he also learns that he can communicate with Jun even without it. The two get each other and the more time they spend together the more Owen falls for him. But does Jun like guys? And Jun’s got some complicated family dynamics. Will the two fall for each other? Or will life get in the way? I loved the depiction of communication and sound in this story! And how hearing can happen in different forms and can be unique to us all! I enjoyed the slow burn romance between Owen and Jun and absolutely adored their friends and families! Especially Ryan and Ella! I also loved the exploration of grief and how Owen depicted it with his art! Simon Doyle’s The Sound Of You is a beautifully told story of love, grief, and deep understanding and communication! Funny, queer, heartwarming, and will have you feeling all the feels! Also had me crying at times! Highly recommend!!

What a terribly sweet story. The novel opens with the death of Owen’s grandfather, so grief plays a large role in the story. Owen deals with so many big, complicated feelings that they feel overwhelming. They are all handed with compassion and his journey toward healing is every bit as moving as the romance that develops between Owen and Jun-ho. Doyle knows how to capture teenage angst and the pangs of first love which is apparent in the tenderness he imbues in Owen and Jun’s relationship.

Ryan, Owen’s best friend, is a scene-stealing character. His presence often injected humor into the story and the way Doyle writes about his friendship with Owen is wonderful. I’m not an expert on the Deaf community, but I do think representation is very important, and I think that this aspect of Jun-ho’s character was handled with sensitivity. I think The Sound of You makes very good points about allyship and recognizing that not everyone experiences the world in the same way.

||4.25🌟||

I would read it again. I would absolutely read it again. If only just feel a pinch of what I felt reading those last chapters, I would absolutely fucking read it again.

This book had layers! Layers of beauty, emotion, grief, love, art, silence, and language. It had me constantly choked up and inspired, sometimes at the same time. I was highlighting lines, rereading passages, just sitting with my heart full.

It’s a gorgeous portrayal of yearning, of a deeper connection, of love in many forms. The way Irish Sign Language and Korean Sign Language are woven into the story.. the way culture is portrayed not just through words, but through food, gestures, silence, it’s stunning. Quietly radical and incredibly moving.

Both main characters had such emotional depth, it felt like they were reaching out of the page and touching something raw in me. Their experiences, their communication, their pain and joy. it all became personal. Their depth was my undoing.

The pacing? Absolutely perfect. Even in its slowest moments, the story stayed strong. I was completely hooked, laughing, swooning, cheesing like an idiot, desperate to know what would happen next. There were no dull moments, only rich ones.

Simon Doyle was clearly exploring a different kind of communication, a communication in silence, in presence, in love. And he portrayed it with such care and tenderness that I was left in awe. The strength and clarity of connection between people who face communication barriers, it was breathtaking.

This book wasn’t just good. It was good GOOD. Truly special. I already want to read it again.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely loved this book. It had me gripped from start to finish. It was a beautiful love story with such a deep connection between our two main characters.

I adored our main characters and how they grew throughout the book. The theme of grief was so easy to resonate with as well.

Finally, the uniqueness of this novel was beautiful. It was refreshing to gain such a valuable insight into deaf culture and the issues that still surround it today.

Overall, one of the best romances I've read all year. I would highly recommend.