Review: The Secret Song of Shelby Rae - Rayne Lacko



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Review: The Secret Song of Shelby Rey - Rayne Lacko - June 2025

There's something utterly captivating about a protagonist who can literally hear the music in people's souls, and Rayne Lacko delivers this concept with breathtaking emotional depth in The Secret Song of Shelby Rey. From the moment I cracked open this ARC (thanks, Books Forward!), I was completely transported into Shelby's world of supernatural empathy and musical revelation.

Set against the glittering yet gritty backdrop of 2008 Los Angeles, this novel follows eighteen-year-old Shelby Rey, whose extraordinary ability to hear people's deepest truths through song feels more like a burden than a gift. After losing her father and being abandoned by her drug-addicted mother, Shelby's life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters chart-topping rock star Zac Wyatt. What unfolds is a mesmerizing tale of fame, addiction, and the dangerous allure of living someone else's truth.

If you loved Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, this book will absolutely sing to your heart. Like Zoey, Shelby experiences the world through an intensely musical lens, hearing the emotions others can't or won't express. But where Zoey's gift brings healing, Shelby's often brings pain—a darker, more complex exploration of what it means to truly hear people.

Rayne Lacko masterfully weaves together themes of love, betrayal, and self-discovery while never losing sight of music's transformative power. The relationship between Shelby, the narcissistic Zac, and the brilliantly troubled Stanford creates a compelling triangle that goes far beyond typical romance tropes. Each character feels authentically flawed and human, making their choices—however devastating—completely believable.

Fans of Gayle Forman and Sarah Dessen will find familiar emotional territory here, but Rayne Lacko's supernatural twist elevates the story into something uniquely powerful. The novel doesn't shy away from difficult topics like addiction and manipulation, yet it maintains hope throughout Shelby's journey toward finding her own voice.

The Secret Song of Shelby Rey is a stunning meditation on the courage it takes to listen to your own inner music when the world is full of noise. This is YA contemporary at its finest—raw, musical, and absolutely unforgettable.

Perfect for readers who loved Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Gayle Forman's emotional depth, and stories about finding your voice.


Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HLvp7R







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