“The worst thing about music is that other people get to hear it.”
Sometimes, a book to review pops up on my kindle that I’ve never heard a single peep about—and in very rare cases, that book turns out to be an all-time favourite. Readers, Beating Heart Baby is one of those books. In this debut, we follow artistic and sensitive Santi, who arrives at a new high school where everyone in the wildly talented (and lowkey famous) marching band welcomes him with open arms—except for one prickly musical prodigy called Suwa, who doesn’t think Santi has what it takes to be part of the band. But what neither Santi nor Suwa know is that they share painful pasts that they’ve both tried to forget for years. As they slowly open up to each other, a tentative yet fiercely loyal friendship begins. When one of them realises just how connected they really are, can Santi and Suwa find a way through the pain and let go of old anger and resentment to create a future together?
There’s something so…alluring about Beating Heart Baby. I want to attribute it to the engaging writing or the compelling protagonist Santi, but really there’s a magic to this book I just can’t put into words. While it’s hard to talk about the plot without spoiling a few big revelations, I do want to point out what makes this book so addictive to read.
This story explores heavy topics such as past trauma and generational abuse—but it also highlights the importance of found family and the utter magic of the right person saying the right thing to you at the exact right moment, or offering a shoulder to cry on just when you need it but don’t know how to ask for it. It’s a heartbreaking read because characters in this story aren’t flawless—everyone makes mistakes. From saying the wrong things to acting out of anger or fear or even shutting others out because of truths you can’t really accept yet, all of the characters are imperfect but what makes this such a wholesome story is that they all grow as time passes. They learn from their mistakes, they intend to do better and then they try again. There’s much to be said for perseverance and inner strength and finding a way to love yourself when you’re scared others won’t and all these emotions are wrapped into Beating Heart Baby.
What I think is another highlight in Santi and Suwa’s romance is the sheer vulnerability that is displayed. Santi and Suwa have a lot of baggage to work through but they do it in this honest manner that just makes you clutch your chest because you can feel their pain and want them to be happy, no matter what. Their tentative friendship as they open up to each other after a rocky start is like watching a flower blossom—whenever they do something that benefits the other, the flower grows, whenever they lash out or hide away, the flower wilts. They’re put in incredibly tough situations but somehow, they emerge victorious, if somewhat disillusioned as they learn that dreams are sometimes not as achievable as they seem. It’s this disillusionment paired with the ambition to still make a name for yourself in whatever way you can which makes Suwa and Santi so perfect for each other.
Beating Heart Baby is also driven by music. From Santi becoming a part of the marching band at his new school to the song his best friend Memo sends him that causes Santi to lose his best friend’s trust, music can both heal and hurt in this story. Min somehow puts into words how music can build long-lasting connections between people but also somehow perfectly explains the utter devastation of a song that means the world to you not being heard the same way by others. Music can be this all-encompassing experience and even when hundreds of thousands of people scream the same lyrics, they might relate to them for hundreds of thousands of different reasons—somehow, Min made this book feel the same way. You might not have your heart ripped out and somehow glued together by this book for the same reason than the next reader—but trust that it will happen, regardless.
All in all, there is so much to love about this—the tender depiction of second chances, the way gender and sexuality discussions are handled, the inclusive cast of secondary characters who have so much personality, the geeking out over favourite animes and the love letter to internet friendships and how they can save you from yourself sometimes are all elements that are sure to keep you flipping the pages, holding your breath to see where Santi and Suwa will end up.
If you like angst, pining, anime, music and found family, Beating Heart Baby is the book that will make you cheer, weep, laugh and pine for your own internet friendship transforming into a happily ever after this summer!
Beating Heart Baby is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of July 26th 2022.
Will you be picking up Beating Heart Baby? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Lio Min’s Beating Heart Baby is a “dizzying, sexy, and utterly heartfelt” (Mary H. K. Choi) love letter to internet friendships, anime, and indie rock
When artistic and sensitive Santi arrives at his new high school, everyone in the wildly talented marching band welcomes him with open arms. Everyone except for the prickly, proud musical prodigy Suwa, who doesn’t think Santi has what it takes to be in the band.
But Santi and Suwa share painful pasts, and when they open up to each other, a tentative friendship begins. And soon, that friendship turns into something more. . . .
Will their fresh start rip at the seams as Suwa seeks out a solo spotlight, and both boys come to terms with what it’ll take, and what they’ll have to let go, to realize their dreams?
