Liana Sarkar is all about music. But ever since her mother’s passing, all she has tried to do is make her father notice her. When she finally does something to catch his attention, she’s horrified to find out that she’s accidentally sabotaged a local band in the process. She makes it her mission to help them get back on track—without the band (or her father) finding out. But as she gets closer to Third Eye (and especially their leader Skyler Moon), she finds it increasingly harder to lie to them about what she did.
For anyone who finds an escape in music, this book hits all the right notes. Bhuiyan's love of music shines through in Liana who has a playlist for every occasion (even “just vibes” which is a vibe in and of itself). This book feels like a warm hug wrapped in a book with strands of music keeping it all together.
One of my favorite aspects was the portrayal of Liana’s depression and anxiety. Bhuiyan does not shy away from it and, in fact, leans strongly into it, even going so far as to have frank discussions about finding a therapist. In addition to those tough topics, there is also portrayal of grief so accurate that I felt myself clutching my chest in remembrance of the grief that I still manage daily. Bhuiyan finds a way to balance the tough stuff with lighthearted moments that tug at the heartstrings.
Speaking of the heartstrings, the found family is absolutely everything. The way that these people truly love and support each other unconditionally is inspirational. Everyone deserves to have the dynamic that Third Eye has with each other (and eventually Liana and Evie as well). It made me want to crawl into the pages of the book just so that I could be a part of group.
And hello Ethan Mitchell, the ultimate golden retriever cinnamon roll. Every member of the found family would lay down their life for him—and so would I. HE MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS!
STAY WITH MY HEART by Tashie Bhuiyan is available now and you can grab a copy for yourself here.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book for free and have voluntarily written this review. If you purchase a copy using my Bookshop affiliate link above, not only will I receive a small commission (which will fuel my coffee and tea addiction and help to keep me up all night reading more books to recommend to you), but you will also be supporting indie bookstores like my local fave Linden Tree Books without whom this review would not be possible! If you prefer Amazon, visit my Amazon storefront and click on the list titled "2024 Book Recommendations."