Spotlight: VIRTUOSITY by Jessica Martinez




I've been curious to read this book ever since I saw the deal announced on Publisher's Marketplace. I love fiction that takes me into a community that I can't even imagine on my own because I don't have any knowledge base. I played Hot Cross Buns on the violin in third grade and quit after a week. Very far from the pressure-filled world of VIRTUOSITY.

VIRTUOSITY is a stunner of a debut. Richly drawn characters, a compulsive plot, and a love story to boot. I've been recommending this book all over, and each time it's for a different reason. I don't think the cover quite conveys what the story is about. There's genius violinists, Jazz clubs, scandal, and sweetness. Very different than many YA books, and the author obviously is familiar with the setting.

Here's what other people are saying...

“An intoxicating blend of passion,vulnerability, and the desire to have it all, no matter the cost. A mesmerizingread.” —Lauren Myracle, bestselling author of Shine and ttyl

“Passionate and true, Virtuosity singsfrom first page to last.” —Sarah Ockler, author of Fixing Delilah and TwentyBoy Summer

“Beautiful writing, a swoon-worthyromance, and tension that will keep you turning the pages. Virtuosity ispitch-perfect.” —Lauren Barnholdt, author of Sometimes It Happens and Two-wayStreet

"Heartfelt, gripping, and unflinchingly authentic.VIRTUOSITY will change the way you think about music." --Antony John,author of Five Flavors of Dumb

"Martinez brings this overwrought world totense, quivering life and guides readers through it confidently. A brilliantdebut." - Kirkus STARRED REVIEW

And here's the flap copy. Read!

From Goodreads:
Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen's whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn't just hot...what if Jeremy is better?
Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can't end well, but she just can't stay away. Nobody else understands her--and riles her up--like he does. Still, she can't trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of always doing what she’s told, doing what's expected.

Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall....

3 comments:

Lydia Sharp said...

Yay! Can't wait to read this. :)

Tanya Byrne said...

This sounds great!

Dahlia Adler said...

Definitely doesn't sound like anything I've read before. On to my "To Read" list it goes!

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