Perfect for fans of:
- Ashley Herring Blake’s The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James
- Nicole Melleby’s In The Role of Brie Hutchens
“I know I can be a singer, and if Mama’s not going to help me, no matter how hard I try? Well, then it’s time I helped myself. No more waiting around, dreaming of flying away. No more playing by Mama’s rules. This good girl’s gonna go bad.”
If I had to pitch this book in one sentence it would be this: Reminiscent of a Disney Channel Original feel-good movie about an aspiring singer-song writer letting nothing stand in her way who falls in love with her competition partner—but make it gay.
We follow young Cline Alden who wants to be a singer more than anything else. Obsessed with country music like her grandmother, Cline reels at the possibility of taking part in a singer-songwriter workshop with a special guest from one of Country’s greatest female singers. The only problem? Her mother will never pay for that— money’s tight at the Alden house and a workshop just isn’t feasible. Taking matters into her own hands, Cline does everything in her power to make it work and ends up being able to take part in the workshop. But while her wildest dreams are coming true, her reality seems to be falling apart as friendships are challenged, secrets pile up and her grandmother’s health worsens.
Quite like Cline does with her guitar, this book tugged at all the strings of my heart. Ormsbee seamlessly weaves together the many strands of this beautiful story—from the harsh realities of Cline’s grandmother worsening Alzheimer’s diagnosis to the collaborative nature of music echoing the collaborative efforts it takes Cline to take part in the music workshop—all the puzzle pieces just fit together beautifully.
There’s such an emphasis on relationships in this book that I didn’t expect. The Alden women are stronger together than apart and this multi-generational depiction of Cline’s family made me so appreciative of the strong women in my own life. Ormsbee dives deep into the different ways we take care of each other—Cline’s mother spends all her time working to make ends meet but forfeits quality time with her daughter in the process. I loved how the struggles of this family were presented but loved even more how everyone came together for the things that mattered. Cline’s collaboration partner in the workshop, who after a bad first impression turns out to be one of the coolest people Cline has ever met, also made this story unputdownable. Cline and Sylvie work together to make their song unequivocally theirs, with infusions of Rock and Country that feels effortless just as their wonderful friendship.
Speaking of friendship, there are loads of depictions of friendship in this book and I loved how we got to see that sometimes, the friends you make when you’re young might not stick around forever or show their true colours very late in the game. When Cline is basically ousted by her best friend Hollie after telling her that she likes girls, Cline goes through one of the toughest friend break-ups ever. Yet she finds that there are other friends who will support and love her, who know that she is perfect just the way she is. Ormsbee here introduces varied religious views and the people behind the institution of the Church and there’s definitely something to be gained here, whether you are religious or not.
All in all, this was a wonderful, well-rounded novel about friendships and the way they can change over time, financial troubles and helping hands, the importance of being yourself and most of all, a tribute to music in all its magnificent ways.
A wonderfully queer about the healing power of music and paying it forward, Candidly Cline features a bright and inspiring protagonist that will show readers that fighting for your dream will be rewarded big-time!
Candidly Cline is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of November 9th 2021.
Will you be picking up Candidly Cline? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Brimming with heart, warmth, and hope, Kathryn Ormsbee’s queer coming-of-age story about a girl trying to find her voice hits all the right notes for fans of Julie Murphy and Lisa Jenn Bigelow.
Born in Paris, Kentucky, and raised on her Gram’s favorite country music, Cline Alden is a girl with big dreams and a heart full of song.
So when she finds out about a young musicians’ workshop just a few towns over, Cline sweet-talks, saves, and maybe fibs her way to her first real step toward musical stardom. But her big dreams never prepared her for the butterflies she feels surrounded by so many other talented kids—especially Sylvie, who gives Cline the type of butterflies she’s only ever heard about in love songs.
As she learns to make music of her own, Cline begins to realize how much of herself she’s been holding back. But now, there’s a new song taking shape in her heart—if only she can find her voice and sing it.
