Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing. Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, Leila Sales' THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together. Includes a PDF playlist of recommended music.
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“Elise is not an easy protagonistto like. She is arrogant and stubborn and almost too precocious, but she isalso smart and young and determined. The novel can feel very uneven as her twolives contrast so sharply. Elise is the “hottest DJ in Glendale,”with a good family life, while simultaneously she is the butt of cruel jokes atschool. When Elise finally begins to stand up for herself, it comes as arelief. This smart, talented, stubborn girl will finally be seen as she trulyis by her family and friends. This novel is complicated, even messy at times,and thus, very lifelike.”
— VOYA
“The emotional resonance of Elise’s journey…feels very much of the moment.”
— New York Times“What sets this apart from so many problem novels is how honestly and deeply Sales probes the life of a miserable sixteen-year-old, from her cringe-worthy attempt at ‘learning’ how to be popular to the observational, rather than emotional, look at what it feels like to be with a guy.”
— Booklist (starred review)“Elise is a remarkably self-aware character. Her journey toward acceptance—of others and of herself—is compelling. The supporting characters are equally well-developed, with the strengths and flaws of real people. Sales’ narrative, rich with diverse music references, reverberates with resilience. Pulsates with hope for all the misfits.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Elise is a complex, well-drawn character, and it’s easy to relate to her sense of feeling like an outsider. Sales fills her third YA novel with honest insights about high school’s cruel politics, tender conversations between Elise and her equally struggling parents, and visceral descriptions of life as a DJ.”
— Publishers Weekly“This Song Will Save Your Life is a transformation story. Being such, it improves drastically as its protagonist evolves. Initially, Elise is self-pitying to the extent that the narrative is hard to swallow. When she finds some self-confidence, however, the book becomes very engaging. The friends she makes are especially lovable. The action is well balanced between the roaring excitement of a nightclub and the quiet tension of Elise’s family. Ultimately, this book has the potential to be quite inspirational.”
— VOYA Reviews by Teen Review Holly Storm“A razor-sharp and honest view of a misfit trying to find her place in the world…Elise is smart and funny and very relatable. Her love of music is a huge part of her story, and there are many references to bands and songs throughout, so some teens will take to this book and love it. Others might not be interested enough to follow Elise on her journey of self-acceptance.”
— School Library Journal“Sales does a nice job of exposing the harsh world of high school and the feeling of loneliness that encompasses all of us at some point. At the same time she leaves readers feeling hope for the future and a world beyond high school: a world where we are free to be who we want to be.”
— Children’s Literature“Narrator Rebecca Lowman embraces the earnestness that is the essence of Elise Dembowski…Lowman portrays Elise’s amazement at discovering DJing, friendship, first love, and finding her true self.”
— AudioFileBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Rebecca Lowman is an actress and audiobook narrator who has won numerous Earphones Awards. She has starred in numerous television shows, including Law & Order, Big Love, NCIS, and Grey’s Anatomy, among many others. She earned her MFA from Columbia University.