A review by alexx_nickh
The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

  I think about the half notes of dissonance, between what I hear and what someone else hears, and those moments where the world is so cold, and when someone reaches their hand out to you. In those symphonic, connected moments where another soul joins you and feels what you feel, and you can breathe again. Like right now. 

The Music of what happens follows our main characters Jordan and Max who couldn't be more different. While Jordan is introverted, into poetry and has no male friends, Max on the other hand is a jock, loves video games and throws the word "man" around one too many times. But when these two end up working on the food truck from Jordan deceased father, they get to know each other more and sparks start to fly. Not only have both boys been through a lot while their love starts to bloom but they still are so different that, in the beginning, neither of them could imagine to be with the other.
This book is everything that I readed right now, in those days I listened to it on audio. This book talks about so many important topics in such a depth that many other young adult novels are not able to do. These topics are harsh and sad and devestating but they are topics that definitely belong in these novels due the fact that so many teenagers, young adults, struggle with them and may need that kind of representation whereever they can get it, no matter if on screen or in the book they're currently reading.
The two main characters are amazingly crafted, lovable and characters you will definitely route for even before knowing or their struggles. These struggles are not the only important things about them which is great and it just makes them more understandable for the reader, the actions, their behavior, their whole being but, as I said before, it isn't the only interesting thing about them.
I loved this book quite a lot and I definitely would consider it a hard-hitting, feel-good read and the only criticism I really have is that I foresaw a plottwist that came near the end about 100 pages in. I just wish that would've been handeld better and maybe the topic that the plottwist focuses on,
the gambeling addiction of Jordan's mother and how it has affected their family and her losing the money Jordan and Max made on the food truck
, could've been explored more, at least a little bit.
The book has also a quite open-ended nature which is something I don't mind, even like but that definitely isn't for everybody.
All in all, I can definitely recommend it and will cherrish it in my heart for quite a while from now on.