I must say, I’ve never been more confused starting a book. It really just thrusts you right in with zero context. 

However, it quickly stole my heart. All of the representation in this story, especially the transgender rep, was so heartfelt and raw – utter perfection. 

And maybe the biggest compliment is that, as a professionally trained classical musician, I barely found fault in the classical music content of the book. So often I find myself cringing when classical music is included in media, because it is often so inaccurate – whether that’s terms being misused or people having no idea about the actual life of a classical musician. 

The only two problems I had with it were towards the end of the book. One being at an outdoor concert, and one of the (very classically trained) musicians thinking "Some oboist would worry about how the wind was affecting her reed." Wind doesn’t affect reeds – the wind would definitely affect the sound, or the outdoor temperature may affect the instrument, but wind has no bearing on a reed. However, the viola slander in the same section was very accurate, and got a little chuckle out of me. 

The other was when Shizuka told a story about a time she was playing a concerto, broke strings on two violins, then finished on a VIOLA?? Violas which often have to use different fingerings and are tuned differently to violins?? So she just spontaneously managed to use viola fingerings and pitched everything she played a fifth differently?? Not realistic at all, unless we had been told she also learned the viola, which wasn’t the case. 

However, the rest of the book was absolutely amazing in the classical music rep. To me, it seems Aoki is a highly trained and skilled musician. It didn’t feel like someone with no musical skill writing (like most media about classical music), instead its clearly from someone who has lived the life of a trained classical musician and understands what people who haven’t been through it could never understand. Imagine my shock when I learned that Aoki isn’t a professionally trained classical musician at all! That’s great writing for ya. 

Overall, a magical and comforting read that doesn’t shy away from the terrors of being trans, with plenty of existentialism thrown in there as well. I’m so thankful to the person who recommended this to me.