I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for review and I'm so glad I requested it: as a first novel from the author I had no idea what to expect, but was intrigued by the cover and 'blurb' so decided to give it a go and will now be on the lookout for whatever CG Drews does next! First things first: this book covers some serious issues and it certainly does not shy away from them - for me the way these issues were covered was one of the things I admired most about the writing, but some readers could be upset/affected by the graphic depictions of domestic abuse (violent, emotional and neglectful) and mental health, so it is a point to bear in mind before reading/buying for someone else. However, for most people I would say - do not let that deter you! As I said, part of what I thought was so good about the book was how well the author dealt with the abuse inflicted by Beck's controlling and obsessive mother: it is unflinching, brutal and up-front, but this is what gives the book its credibility and ability to stay well away from what could have become a stereotypical melodrama, lightly touching on home drama and a love interest. Instead it is so much more than that. The way the characters are written play a big part in that. Beck himself was a really likeable and convincing character - one of those characters you really invest in and empathise with. As he battles with conflicting desires/needs/expectations - his/his mother's/his little sister's as he tries to look after and protect her/August's as he gets closer to her...not to mention his love-hate relationship with music - I found myself really struggling along with him and rooting for him. Conversely, 'the Maestro' was far from likeable and all you want throughout the book is an escape route for Beck, but you feel equally passionate about her in different ways. And while the depiction of her actions and their immediate effect on Beck and his little sister Joey are graphic, there is also a gradual revelation of the reasons behind her behaviour - which, while it in no way excuses it, did make her much more believable as a character and opens up space to explore grey areas, cause and effect, wellness etc. rather than just painting her as the two-dimensional villain of the piece. Ultimately, this book is about Beck's journey to find himself, his voice and his way out of the confines of his mother's demands and expectations and it delivers by the bucketload. Yes, it is hard-hitting at times,but it is also full of hope, possibility and determination and it will have you flinching, crying, holding your breath and rushing to turn the page.

This book is simply PERFECTION! So just pop out and buy it - you will not regret it!

Warning! Be prepared to have your soul shattered and your heart broken! But don’t be afraid! Drews sprinkles this novel with just enough magic to make sure you’re back in one piece by the end. Almost… This is a glorious debut novel from Drews, most popularly know as Paper Fury on Twitter and Instagram. It tells the story of Beck, a teenage boy who’s being forced to live out his broken mother’s dreams of being a world-famous concert pianist. But there’s just one problem. Beck doesn’t want to play Chopin, or Beethoven, or Bach. He wants to play his own music, and spends his time inside his own head, composing, to blot out a life he despises. A source of constant disappointment to his violent mother, he desperately wants a different life for both himself, and his little sister Joey. And then he meets August, who comes into his life like a whirlwind, whose presence pushes against all of the walls he’s put up to keep his life secret, and to keep everyone out. But soon those walls start to shake, built on such fragile foundations as they are, and all of his efforts unravel… You will sob. Your heart will burst. But you’ll also see the little chinks of light seeping through the cracks, until finally Drews takes a hammer to everything and the light pours in, making even the broken pieces seem golden in its glow. It’s a beautifully readable book that hauls you over the coals until you want to bathe in kittens and ice-cream to recover!

I'm not crying, you're crying! This book absolutely blew me away; it is unbelievably intense, heart-breaking, and yet provides this warms at certain times which just makes you want to hug the thing. I was really excited to be granted the opportunity to read and review this book having seen a lot about it on Instagram (I was already following the author), and I'm so happy that this book lived up to the hype I built for me in my mind. I felt like I really connected with this main character, which is something hugely important for me in any fictional read as it not only engages me with the story as a whole, but also helps me to empathise and really transport myself into the pages of the book. Beck is a main character who clearly wants to break out of his shell and follow his dreams - it isn't that he doesn't like music at all, but he wants to play his own pieces. His mother is adamant she will live her dream through him and forces him to play for hours, with strict rules about friendships as well as basically not caring in the slightest how he performs in school. I love that August comes along and begins to lure him out of his cage because the few breakthrough moments she has with him, really give his character depth. This story primarily focuses on Beck, his younger sister Joey - whom he appears to care for almost completely, and August and I loved the way different voices had been conveyed through the narration. I wouldn't say this book has a particularly fast paced to keep the reader engaged, but rather it took an approach of just being so intense you didn't want to put it down. The whole time routing for Beck to make some kind of breakthrough. I'm just glad the book ended how it did - not how it came to that ending - that was the pinnacle of heart-break, but the outcome... t'was good. Overall I'm awarding this book the full five stars - I absolutely loved this. I've been reading a lot of contemporary fiction recently so my standards have become pretty high and this was just flawless. It really outlined so many issues; physical and mental abuse, but the themes of hope balanced it perfectly. It was undoubtedly a very intense book, and in some places really quite upsetting but the message of this book is so important. Definite recommend to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction and even if you're slightly intrigued - pick the book up!

*I received a proof copy from Team BKMRK in exchange for an honest review.* Welcome to Imi reads multiple contemporaries and LOVES THEM. What a rare sight! A Thousand Perfect Notes is the debut novel from infamous book blogger and bookstagrammer PaperFury, and DAMN CAN SHE WRITE. It’s about the son of a world-famous pianist who is being forced to follow in her footsteps to the point where he no longer enjoys what he is doing (TW: physical and emotional abuse) . It’s about friendship, family, and music – basically the most important things in my life. You can see why I loved it. Honestly, Cait’s writing is phenomenal. Her lyrical prose flows like the music she describes and I felt every word in my soul. It made me crave performing again, more than I have since I stopped five years ago. I mark quotes in all the books I read and I swear to god, I have never used so many book darts on a book of that size. I cannot recommend this enough.