4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this one! I liked the main characters and I also really liked their band-mates. The pinning hit me right in the feels in the best way possible.

I was a little disappointed with the fade to black sex scenes, though. I don't believe books need to have sex scenes to be good, but I also think there are good ways to skip sex scenes without making it feel like something is missing. There are two instances in this book where I think a lot of character and relationship growth happens during those intimate moments (when Ruben realises he's never trusted something to give him a blowjob before and decides he trusts Zach enough to try it with him, and their first time doing penetrative sex), and the readers miss out on those times with a "when it was over" throwaway line.

Now I understand not everyone wants to write or read erotica. But you can write sex scenes without making them erotic, or making them less explicit. Casey McQuiston does a FANTASTIC job in writing sex scenes that are about the intimate feelings the characters are having over the act itself. And when all else fails just mentioning the sex in passing instead of having the whole lead up with a big fat "when it was over" works very well too. I'd rather read a book that doesn't mention sex at all over a book that feels like a scene was cut out completely.

The other thing that stopped me from giving a full 5 stars was the fact that the ending felt a bit rushed. The characters basically get saved by their parents instead of helping themselves, and we don't get a satisfying ending on Ruben's relationship with his mom. I'm okay with the open ending, though - it did work for the story. And I wouldn't be surprised if this book ends up getting a sequel, but I would be happy with this as a standalone too.

Otherwise, it's a good read and I enjoyed it.

CW for drug use and underage drinking, and controlling parents that etch the line of abusive.