Dominic Lim
Author of All the Right Notes
Works by Dominic Lim
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Two boys fall in love in high school but neither realizes the other feels the same way. They reconnect for a disastrous college weekend of further miscommunication, and it’s only 15 years later that they come together again – after one has moved to NYC to become a piano bar player and the other has moved to LA to become a huge movie star – to help the father, who’s retiring from being the choir director of their old high school, put on a final concert.
The miscommunication bit flirts show more with getting too frustrating, but otherwise this is a cute, nicely-written story, and the characters are fantastic, especially the non-binary trans drag queen best friend. show less
The miscommunication bit flirts show more with getting too frustrating, but otherwise this is a cute, nicely-written story, and the characters are fantastic, especially the non-binary trans drag queen best friend. show less
While this was very good, well written, I have to deduct marks for the very very long tease in this nearly 10-hour-long audiobook.
And when the MCs finally kissed, first in the past, and in the present day, very close to the end, these events were so anti-climatic, that my reaction was that Dominic Lim had not, after all, despite the tremendous build up ... which was entirely about heartache ... written a romance!
He'd written a song to hopelessness, and unfulfilled longing - unfilled show more because his HEA was so non-eventful (not "uneventful", because there was NO event at all, just to emphasise the point!).
It was nice to be transported to the world of these characters - lovers of music and musicals in particular - and their reverence for singing!
Aaron Albano was very good - no other works narrated by him in my libraries unfortunately.
If you hate flashbacks, be warned that "then" and "now" is how this story is constructed - constant back and forth, like reading two books simultaneously. As much as I find flashbacks a drag, it was so neatly done that I forbore it.
Also, this is a Behind Closed Doors romance, using the steam rating system. I'm not objecting to that per se, but it left nothing to offset the heartache and longing, and that on its own does not an entertaining novel make. show less
And when the MCs finally kissed, first in the past, and in the present day, very close to the end, these events were so anti-climatic, that my reaction was that Dominic Lim had not, after all, despite the tremendous build up ... which was entirely about heartache ... written a romance!
He'd written a song to hopelessness, and unfulfilled longing - unfilled show more because his HEA was so non-eventful (not "uneventful", because there was NO event at all, just to emphasise the point!).
It was nice to be transported to the world of these characters - lovers of music and musicals in particular - and their reverence for singing!
Aaron Albano was very good - no other works narrated by him in my libraries unfortunately.
If you hate flashbacks, be warned that "then" and "now" is how this story is constructed - constant back and forth, like reading two books simultaneously. As much as I find flashbacks a drag, it was so neatly done that I forbore it.
Also, this is a Behind Closed Doors romance, using the steam rating system. I'm not objecting to that per se, but it left nothing to offset the heartache and longing, and that on its own does not an entertaining novel make. show less
Important CW: death of MC's beloved father, as well as flashbacks to death of MC's mother
3.5 stars. Piano player and aspiring composer Quito Cruz pines for Emmett Aoki throughout their senior year at Sunvalley High School, but settles for friendship because Emmett is a popular, straight jock. Then something happens during their freshman year of college when Emmett visits Quito at Oberlin, and the two MCs don't speak to each other for 20 years. Emmett becomes a world-famous action movie show more star. Quito toils in obscurity in New York City, accompanying aspiring singers, playing in piano bars, and occasionally subbing in the pit at Broadway productions.
When Quito's dad announces his plan to step down from his role as Sunvalley High choir director, he manipulates Quito into agreeing to play at the upcoming retirement celebration in California. Even worse, he urges Quito to bring Emmett with him. With the enthusiastic help of his drag queen BFF Ujima, Quito schemes to surprise Emmett who coincidentally is in NYC to host Saturday Night Live. But when the two men are face to face, Quito has to come to terms with what really happened 20 years ago, and whether their uncanny ability to create music together will ever transform into something deeper.
Debut author Dominic Lim's experience with music composition and performance is evident in the lively descriptions of the magic that happens when Quito's piano playing accompanies Emmett's singing. Lim's pride in his Korean heritage is also evident in his descriptions of Quito's relationship with his father and the joy they take in cooking together. However, the romance didn't quite work for me. While we know every single thought in Quito's mind, Emmett remains a cipher for most of the story. In fact, we only hear his version of past events at about 70%. There's the fact that Quito already has a boyfriend (who is conveniently taken out of the picture at just the right time). And it was hard for me to believe that both MCs carried a torch for each other for so long despite having absolutely zero contact the whole time.
The strongest relationship in the novel is between Quito and his dad, who has always wanted his son to be happy even if he has to meddle a little for that to happen. When Mr. Cruz, Sr. has to take a temporary break from work, Quito is petrified to step in as choir director because he can't possibly live up to his dad's stellar reputation. Compared to the father/son dynamics, the question of whether Quito will get with his high school crush seems unimportant.
Still, there was a lot to appreciate about this book. Ujima (nee Gerome) steals every scene he appears in, and makes a strong case for starring in his own book. Quito's unique way of processing music makes it easy to understand his passion for it, as well as his frustration when he hits a long-term composer's block. And Quito and Emmett are cute together for the little bit of page time that they are officially a couple, including a short but rewarding epilogue.
ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review. show less
3.5 stars. Piano player and aspiring composer Quito Cruz pines for Emmett Aoki throughout their senior year at Sunvalley High School, but settles for friendship because Emmett is a popular, straight jock. Then something happens during their freshman year of college when Emmett visits Quito at Oberlin, and the two MCs don't speak to each other for 20 years. Emmett becomes a world-famous action movie show more star. Quito toils in obscurity in New York City, accompanying aspiring singers, playing in piano bars, and occasionally subbing in the pit at Broadway productions.
When Quito's dad announces his plan to step down from his role as Sunvalley High choir director, he manipulates Quito into agreeing to play at the upcoming retirement celebration in California. Even worse, he urges Quito to bring Emmett with him. With the enthusiastic help of his drag queen BFF Ujima, Quito schemes to surprise Emmett who coincidentally is in NYC to host Saturday Night Live. But when the two men are face to face, Quito has to come to terms with what really happened 20 years ago, and whether their uncanny ability to create music together will ever transform into something deeper.
Debut author Dominic Lim's experience with music composition and performance is evident in the lively descriptions of the magic that happens when Quito's piano playing accompanies Emmett's singing. Lim's pride in his Korean heritage is also evident in his descriptions of Quito's relationship with his father and the joy they take in cooking together. However, the romance didn't quite work for me. While we know every single thought in Quito's mind, Emmett remains a cipher for most of the story. In fact, we only hear his version of past events at about 70%. There's the fact that Quito already has a boyfriend (who is conveniently taken out of the picture at just the right time). And it was hard for me to believe that both MCs carried a torch for each other for so long despite having absolutely zero contact the whole time.
The strongest relationship in the novel is between Quito and his dad, who has always wanted his son to be happy even if he has to meddle a little for that to happen. When Mr. Cruz, Sr. has to take a temporary break from work, Quito is petrified to step in as choir director because he can't possibly live up to his dad's stellar reputation. Compared to the father/son dynamics, the question of whether Quito will get with his high school crush seems unimportant.
Still, there was a lot to appreciate about this book. Ujima (nee Gerome) steals every scene he appears in, and makes a strong case for starring in his own book. Quito's unique way of processing music makes it easy to understand his passion for it, as well as his frustration when he hits a long-term composer's block. And Quito and Emmett are cute together for the little bit of page time that they are officially a couple, including a short but rewarding epilogue.
ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review. show less
In a Nutshell: An OwnVoices Queer romance-drama with the protagonist having an alter ego as a drag queen. Nice characters, wonderful storyline, decent romance, amazing inclusive rep. I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did, especially as it had a few too many YA/NA vibes for my liking. (Note that the book isn't YA/NA romance. It just feels like one because of some writing choices.)
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Plot Preview:
Honestly, I had just one reason to take this book. In the last few years, I have consciously strived to be inclusive in my reading, but no book with a drag queen as a protagonist had appealed to me so far. Until I saw this one. Drag, Filipino background, karaoke, MM romance – four enticing elements that the book does justice to. Hooray!
Bookish Yays: show less
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Plot Preview:
Rex is openly gay and has embraced this part of his identityshow more
well. However, he has another identity that he has suppressed since many years. When he discovers that his college sweetheart Aaron, the one that got away, is back in town and struggling to keep his karaoke bar afloat, Rex jumps in. Or rather, his alter ego, the talented drag queen who goes by ‘Regina Moon Dee’, takes charge. There’s only one problem: Aaron has no fondness for drag queens, so Rex has to keep his Regina side a secret. As Regina grows popular, Rex finds it increasingly troublesome to reconcile his two lives. But can he openly be Rex and Regina without losing Aaron again?
The story comes to us in Rex’s first-person perspective.
Honestly, I had just one reason to take this book. In the last few years, I have consciously strived to be inclusive in my reading, but no book with a drag queen as a protagonist had appealed to me so far. Until I saw this one. Drag, Filipino background, karaoke, MM romance – four enticing elements that the book does justice to. Hooray!
Bookish Yays: show less
Awards
Statistics
- Works
- 2
- Members
- 115
- Popularity
- #170,829
- Rating
- 3.6
- Reviews
- 9
- ISBNs
- 6